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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. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. pass — a permit
  3. mark — a trace
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. roll — a list
  6. fork — in a road
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. track — to keep track
  11. cap — of ice
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. track — a song
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. cap — a lid
  18. track — a path
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. mark — a grade
  21. fine — high quality
  22. roll — a cake
  23. cap — a hat
  24. fork — a garden tool

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