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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. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. cell — in biology
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. chip — for betting
  7. pass — a permit
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. sharp — clever
  12. chip — to eat
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. cell — a phone
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. lie — to recline
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. object — an aim
  24. object — a thing

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