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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. rock — a stone
  3. rule — to rule out
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. sharp — clever
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. track — to keep track
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. track — a song
  14. mug — a face
  15. rule — a law
  16. track — a path
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. pass — a permit
  19. rule — government
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. mug — a cup
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. mug — to rob
  24. sharp — exactly

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