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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. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. tube — a container
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. cue — for pool
  5. tube — the underground
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. sharp — clever
  9. object — to protest
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. pass — a permit
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. cue — a hint
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. object — an aim
  19. cue — a signal
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. perch — the fish
  22. object — a thing
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. tube — in a tire

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