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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. ball — a great time
  4. stand — to bear
  5. bank — for money
  6. ball — a dance
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. bank — for money
  9. pass — a permit
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. lie — to recline
  13. wax — to grow
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. saw — the tool
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. pitch — completely
  24. saw — the tool

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