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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. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. net — after costs
  4. charge — electricity
  5. mark — a trace
  6. net — in sport
  7. spell — a short time
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. perch — the fish
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. net — for catching
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. charge — in control
  15. spell — magic
  16. scale — in music
  17. charge — a price
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. pass — a permit
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. spell — letters
  22. scale — size or range
  23. mark — a grade
  24. pass — to succeed

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