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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 ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. rush — hurry
  4. pass — a permit
  5. cue — a hint
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. suit — in cards
  12. rash — a series
  13. suit — to fit
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. cue — a signal
  16. suit — clothes
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. cue — for pool
  19. saw — the tool
  20. prune — to trim
  21. prune — to trim
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. saw — the tool
  24. rash — hasty

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