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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. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. face — to confront
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. pop — to visit
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. staff — employees
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. row — a line
  10. staff — employees
  11. cue — a hint
  12. cue — a signal
  13. cue — for pool
  14. pop — soda
  15. face — to point toward
  16. row — to paddle
  17. staff — a stick
  18. face — part of the head
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. pop — music
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. rush — hurry

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