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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 116 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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. drill — army training
  4. rock — a stone
  5. rush — hurry
  6. kid — child
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. drill — a practice
  9. pass — a permit
  10. drill — the tool
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. can — to be able to
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. can — a tin
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. kid — to tease
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. rock — music
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. can — a tin
  23. bear — the animal
  24. ruler — for measuring

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