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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. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. chest — of your body
  3. spell — letters
  4. pass — a permit
  5. rock — a stone
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. rock — music
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. chest — a box
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. spell — a short time
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. spell — magic
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. foot — a measure
  22. chest — of your body
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. ruler — a monarch

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