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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. tear — to rip
  4. cue — a signal
  5. wound — an injury
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. tear — from crying
  8. spell — letters
  9. cue — a hint
  10. tear — from crying
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. wound — an injury
  13. rush — hurry
  14. track — a song
  15. spell — magic
  16. cue — for pool
  17. track — to keep track
  18. pass — a permit
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. track — a path
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. spell — a short time
  24. pitcher — a jug

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