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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  23. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. mark — a grade
  4. wound — an injury
  5. pit — a hole
  6. pit — in a race
  7. wound — an injury
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. ball — a great time
  12. mark — a trace
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. ball — a dance
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. shower — rain
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. fork — a garden tool
  23. fork — in a road
  24. shower — to wash

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