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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 120 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 can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pass — a permit
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. staff — employees
  7. track — a path
  8. season — of the year
  9. season — in sport
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. ground — a position
  12. staff — a stick
  13. track — to keep track
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. track — a song
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. dip — to sink
  18. branch — a division
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. staff — employees
  21. ground — the earth
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. ground — crushed

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