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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. roll — a cake
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. key — for a lock
  6. key — in music
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. rock — a stone
  9. fork — in a road
  10. capital — money
  11. rock — music
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. lie — to recline
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. roll — a list
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. pass — a permit
  21. capital — a city
  22. key — the most important part
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. capital — a big letter

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