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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. That was a fun ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bound — certain
  6. lean — to bend
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. stock — goods
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. can — to be able to
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. bound — tied together
  16. can — a tin
  17. game — wild animals
  18. bound — obliged
  19. rush — hurry
  20. lean — thin
  21. can — a tin
  22. pass — a permit
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. stock — shares

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