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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: track · foot · rash · last · bank · plane · pass · rule

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. rule — to rule out
  4. bank — of a river
  5. last — finally
  6. track — a path
  7. bank — for money
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. last — final
  10. bank — for money
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. rash — a series
  14. track — a song
  15. rule — government
  16. last — to go on
  17. plane — a tool
  18. pass — a permit
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. rule — a law
  21. foot — a measure
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. rash — hasty

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