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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. pass — a permit
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. face — part of the head
  9. bass — the fish
  10. bass — low music
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. rush — hurry
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. face — to confront
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. firm — steady
  22. firm — decided
  23. face — to point toward
  24. firm — a company

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