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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. pass — a permit
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. mug — to rob
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. mine — for digging
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. content — videos and posts
  14. content — the amount
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. content — happy
  17. mug — a face
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. rush — hurry
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. wake — a trail
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. fan — a supporter

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