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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. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. fall — to drop
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. fall — the season
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. toast — bread
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. pass — a permit
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. squash — to crush
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. squash — the sport
  18. rush — hurry
  19. fall — to drop
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. snap — to click

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