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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: pass · field · pitcher · scale · deal · key · saw · track

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. track — a song
  3. field — a subject
  4. field — for sport
  5. saw — the tool
  6. track — a path
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. saw — the tool
  10. key — for a lock
  11. field — farmland
  12. scale — in music
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. pass — a permit
  16. deal — to handle
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. track — to keep track
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. scale — size or range
  22. key — the most important part
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. pitcher — a jug

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