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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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. perch — the fish
  3. pass — a permit
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. swing — to play on
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. swing — in golf
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — a tin
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. sharp — clever
  21. plane — a tool
  22. swing — music
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. can — to be able to

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