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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. rest — a break
  3. rest — what's left
  4. pop — to visit
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. rush — hurry
  7. pop — soda
  8. firm — a company
  9. rest — what's left
  10. lie — to recline
  11. can — a tin
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. pass — a permit
  14. firm — steady
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. pop — music
  17. charge — a price
  18. charge — in control
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. firm — decided
  22. can — a tin
  23. charge — electricity
  24. can — to be able to

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