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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. track — to keep track
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. saw — the tool
  6. firm — a company
  7. track — a song
  8. date — the fruit
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. saw — the tool
  12. firm — steady
  13. track — a path
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. firm — decided
  16. rock — a stone
  17. roll — a list
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. pass — a permit
  20. rock — music
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. roll — a cake
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. date — on the calendar

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