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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. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. can — a tin
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. can — to be able to
  13. cap — of ice
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. rule — government
  16. can — a tin
  17. cap — a lid
  18. snap — to click
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. cap — a hat
  21. pass — a permit
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. rule — to rule out

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