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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. prune — to trim
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. cue — for pool
  5. pass — a permit
  6. bulb — for light
  7. prune — to trim
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. cue — a hint
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. mate — to breed
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. mate — a partner
  17. bear — the animal
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. bulb — for light
  20. mate — a friend
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. cue — a signal
  24. rush — hurry

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