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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. face — to point toward
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. saw — the tool
  12. face — part of the head
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. mine — for digging
  15. pass — a permit
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. can — a tin
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. can — to be able to
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. face — to confront
  24. bay — a horse colour

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