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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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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: cap · deal · pop · bound · pass · track · craft · saw

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. craft — a skill
  3. deal — to handle
  4. bound — tied together
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. cap — a hat
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. pop — soda
  9. track — a path
  10. track — to keep track
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. pass — a permit
  14. saw — the tool
  15. cap — a lid
  16. cap — of ice
  17. track — a song
  18. bound — obliged
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. craft — boats
  21. bound — certain
  22. pop — to visit
  23. saw — the tool
  24. craft — a handicraft

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