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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. saw — the tool
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. ground — the earth
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. season — in sport
  9. ground — a position
  10. ground — crushed
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. vault — a safe
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. saw — the tool
  19. lie — to recline
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. season — of the year
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. leaves — lets stay

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