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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. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. face — to point toward
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. rash — a series
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. cue — a hint
  10. dip — to sink
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. face — part of the head
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. face — to confront
  17. rash — hasty
  18. rule — a law
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. cue — for pool
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. cue — a signal
  23. rule — government
  24. pass — a permit

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