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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 120 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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. race — a contest
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. pass — a permit
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. net — after costs
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. squash — to crush
  12. net — in sport
  13. squash — the sport
  14. race — humankind
  15. net — for catching
  16. fine — high quality
  17. race — the arms race
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. fine — all right
  24. squash — the vegetable

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