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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 116 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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Word bank
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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: track · land · snap · club · cabinet · pit · calf · mark

  1. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. mark — a grade
  3. track — a path
  4. land — to come down
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. club — for golf
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. club — a group
  11. pit — in a race
  12. track — to keep track
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. land — ground
  17. club — for dancing
  18. mark — a trace
  19. land — a country
  20. snap — to click
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. track — a song

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