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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: key · track · branch · fine · nail · pound · bowl · mate

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. pound — for dogs
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. fine — high quality
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. track — a song
  7. mate — a partner
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. mate — to breed
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. fine — all right
  13. track — a path
  14. key — in music
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. mate — a friend
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. pound — to hit hard
  20. track — to keep track
  21. pound — a weight
  22. branch — a division
  23. key — the most important part
  24. branch — of a tree

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