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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 120 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: lie · mark · bound · nail · file · key · pound · track

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. track — a song
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. file — a tool
  5. pound — for dogs
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. bound — obliged
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. pound — a weight
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. mark — a grade
  14. key — the most important part
  15. track — a path
  16. file — a line of people
  17. bound — tied together
  18. key — for a lock
  19. track — to keep track
  20. key — in music
  21. mark — a trace
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. lie — to recline
  24. bound — certain

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