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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. game — a match
  3. fine — all right
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. mug — to rob
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. pass — a permit
  12. wound — an injury
  13. fine — high quality
  14. bark — a dog's sound
  15. rock — a stone
  16. bark — to shout
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. mug — a cup
  19. mug — a face
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. wound — an injury
  22. game — wild animals
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rock — music

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