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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 wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. last — finally
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. rest — what's left
  5. last — to go on
  6. pass — a permit
  7. last — final
  8. hand — help
  9. root — of a plant
  10. root — the cause
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. rest — a break
  13. rash — a series
  14. rash — hasty
  15. bulb — for light
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. hand — in cards
  18. root — of a word
  19. roll — a list
  20. rest — what's left
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. roll — a cake
  23. bulb — for light
  24. pass — to succeed

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