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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. pitch — completely
  4. spell — a short time
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. spell — magic
  9. hand — in cards
  10. fine — all right
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. date — the fruit
  14. fine — high quality
  15. hand — help
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. spell — letters
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. pass — a permit
  24. pitch — a sports field

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