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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. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. pass — a permit
  3. rest — what's left
  4. rush — hurry
  5. bank — of a river
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. chip — for betting
  8. rest — a break
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. march — the month
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. bank — for money
  13. chip — to eat
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. march — music
  19. deal — to handle
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. rest — what's left
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. bank — for money
  24. lie — to recline

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