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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. club — for golf
  3. board — a committee
  4. track — to keep track
  5. club — for dancing
  6. rest — what's left
  7. suit — in cards
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. bear — the animal
  10. rest — what's left
  11. bear — the animal
  12. suit — clothes
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. rest — a break
  15. track — a path
  16. track — a song
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. pass — a permit
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. club — a group
  21. board — to get on
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. suit — to fit

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