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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. race — a contest
  4. mug — to rob
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. race — humankind
  9. pass — a permit
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. cap — of ice
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. content — the amount
  16. mug — a face
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. cap — a hat
  19. bore — to drill
  20. race — the arms race
  21. cap — a lid
  22. bore — to tire
  23. content — happy
  24. mug — a cup

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