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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. roll — a cake
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. toast — bread
  7. pitch — completely
  8. key — the most important part
  9. net — for catching
  10. key — in music
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. net — after costs
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. roll — a list
  17. key — for a lock
  18. sharp — clever
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. net — in sport

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