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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. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. spell — letters
  3. mark — a trace
  4. lie — to recline
  5. straw — to clutch at straws
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. game — a match
  8. spell — a short time
  9. pass — a permit
  10. spell — magic
  11. game — wild animals
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. mark — a grade
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. straw — dry grass
  23. rush — hurry
  24. bowl — a dish

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