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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. bear — the animal
  4. key — for a lock
  5. staff — a stick
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. tube — a container
  10. sharp — clever
  11. staff — employees
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. bear — the animal
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. key — the most important part
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. tube — the underground
  21. key — in music
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. staff — employees

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