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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. scale — size or range
  10. can — a tin
  11. last — final
  12. scale — in music
  13. pass — a permit
  14. can — to be able to
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. deal — to handle
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. can — a tin
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. last — to go on
  23. last — finally
  24. deal — an agreement

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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