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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. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. pass — a permit
  4. file — a tool
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. file — a line of people
  8. board — to get on
  9. bulb — for light
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. bulb — for light
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. board — a committee
  15. pitch — completely
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. roll — a cake
  18. file — a document
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. roll — a list
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. roll — on a roll

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