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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 120 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 lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. present — there
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. present — a gift
  7. cue — a hint
  8. pass — a permit
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. pop — to visit
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. pop — soda
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. pop — music
  16. present — the time now
  17. rush — hurry
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. cue — a signal
  20. foot — a measure
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. cue — for pool

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