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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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. spell — a short time
  3. mug — to rob
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. mug — a cup
  6. current — happening now
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. rash — hasty
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. rash — a series
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. current — of water
  17. perch — the fish
  18. mug — a face
  19. spell — letters
  20. current — electric
  21. pass — a permit
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. spell — magic

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