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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. suit — to fit
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. suit — in cards
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. lie — to recline
  16. suit — clothes
  17. toast — bread
  18. lie — an untruth

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