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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. can — to be able to
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. game — wild animals
  5. can — a tin
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. pass — a permit
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. firm — a company
  10. band — a ring
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. band — a music group
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. game — a match
  15. firm — decided
  16. staff — employees
  17. can — a tin
  18. bear — the animal
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. staff — a stick
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. firm — steady
  23. bear — the animal
  24. staff — employees

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