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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 116 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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. stock — goods
  4. pit — in a race
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. can — to be able to
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — a tin
  10. pit — a hole
  11. degree — temperature
  12. face — to confront
  13. face — to point toward
  14. degree — an amount
  15. prune — to trim
  16. stock — shares
  17. current — electric
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. face — part of the head
  21. current — happening now
  22. current — of water
  23. degree — from a university
  24. prune — to trim

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