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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. degree — an amount
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. spring — a coil
  9. stand — to bear
  10. pit — in a race
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. sharp — clever
  14. pass — a permit
  15. pit — a hole
  16. spring — of water
  17. prune — to trim
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. degree — temperature
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. toast — bread
  22. degree — from a university
  23. prune — to trim
  24. spring — the season

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