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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. key — in music
  3. can — a tin
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. saw — the tool
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. saw — the tool
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. can — a tin
  14. wake — a trail
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. key — for a lock
  17. key — the most important part
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. lie — to recline
  21. can — to be able to
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. pass — to spend time

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