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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. pass — a permit
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. saw — the tool
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. rash — hasty
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. wax — to grow
  19. saw — the tool
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. rash — a series
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. fork — in a road
  24. jam — a tight spot

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