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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. pop — soda
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. land — a country
  10. kick — in football
  11. branch — a division
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. pop — music
  14. pass — a permit
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. land — to come down
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. pop — to visit
  22. land — ground
  23. rush — hurry
  24. kick — a thrill

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