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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 116 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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. suit — to fit
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. suit — clothes
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. pass — a permit
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. game — wild animals
  14. row — to paddle
  15. game — a match
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. suit — in cards
  21. straw — a straw man
  22. row — a line
  23. pitch — completely
  24. perch — the fish

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