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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 120 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. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — for baseball
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. ball — a dance
  5. band — a music group
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. object — a thing
  12. bat — the animal
  13. ball — a great time
  14. pitch — completely
  15. band — a ring
  16. rock — music
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. bat — in an idiom
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. pass — a permit
  21. lie — to recline
  22. rock — a stone
  23. object — to protest
  24. object — an aim

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