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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. roll — a cake
  5. season — in sport
  6. pass — a permit
  7. chip — for betting
  8. squash — to crush
  9. season — of the year
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. squash — the sport
  14. content — the amount
  15. deal — to handle
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. roll — a list
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. content — happy
  24. chip — to eat

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