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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. rash — a series
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. rash — hasty
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. saw — the tool
  10. spell — a short time
  11. wake — a trail
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. saw — the tool
  19. spell — letters
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. spell — magic
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. rash — on the skin

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