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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  9. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. stand — to bear
  4. bear — the animal
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. bat — the animal
  9. band — a rubber band
  10. band — a ring
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. bat — for baseball
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. band — a music group
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. bear — the animal
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. perch — the fish
  24. bat — in an idiom

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