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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. ball — a dance
  4. mine — for digging
  5. plane — a tool
  6. pass — a permit
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. swing — music
  10. charge — a price
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. charge — electricity
  13. scale — size or range
  14. scale — in music
  15. content — happy
  16. swing — to play on
  17. ball — a great time
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. content — the amount
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. charge — in control
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. swing — in golf

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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