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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. march — music
  3. pop — music
  4. march — the month
  5. toast — bread
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. pop — soda
  8. march — the month
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. pass — a permit
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. fork — in a road
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. fine — high quality
  20. fine — all right
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. rash — a series
  23. pop — to visit
  24. pass — to succeed

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