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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 help me carry this box?
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. drill — army training
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. roll — a cake
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. drill — a practice
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. rash — hasty
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. can — a tin
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. rash — a series
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. roll — a list
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. can — a tin
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. drill — the tool
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. pass — a permit

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