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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. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. lie — to recline
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. stock — shares
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. cap — a hat
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. cue — a hint
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. cue — for pool
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. roll — a cake
  15. cap — a lid
  16. cap — of ice
  17. pass — a permit
  18. stock — goods
  19. cue — a signal
  20. roll — a list
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. drill — army training
  23. drill — a practice
  24. drill — 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