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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. mate — a friend
  4. court — of law
  5. court — of a king
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. can — a tin
  8. board — a committee
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. can — a tin
  13. board — to get on
  14. mate — a partner
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. mate — to breed
  17. deal — to handle
  18. can — to be able to
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. court — for sport
  21. wound — an injury
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. wound — an injury
  24. pass — a permit

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