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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. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. net — in sport
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. object — a thing
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. content — the amount
  7. rash — a series
  8. rash — hasty
  9. bound — certain
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pass — a permit
  12. net — after costs
  13. bound — tied together
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. mark — a trace
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. net — for catching
  19. object — to protest
  20. bound — obliged
  21. mark — a grade
  22. object — an aim
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. content — happy

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