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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  14. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. rock — music
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. kid — child
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. rock — a stone
  11. stock — goods
  12. plane — a tool
  13. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  14. kid — to tease
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. season — in sport
  17. stock — shares
  18. saw — the tool
  19. pass — a permit
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. saw — the tool
  24. season — of the year

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