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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: chip · wound · deal · bound · track · key · pass · ground

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. wound — an injury
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. key — for a lock
  6. bound — tied together
  7. pass — a permit
  8. key — in music
  9. ground — crushed
  10. ground — a position
  11. track — a path
  12. key — the most important part
  13. track — a song
  14. chip — for betting
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. track — to keep track
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. bound — obliged
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. bound — certain
  21. chip — to eat
  22. wound — an injury
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. deal — to handle

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com