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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. fine — all right
  4. cue — a hint
  5. bass — low music
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. scale — size or range
  9. saw — the tool
  10. squash — to crush
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. cue — for pool
  13. squash — the sport
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. cue — a signal
  17. scale — in music
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. saw — the tool
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. pass — a permit
  22. fine — high quality
  23. bass — the fish
  24. squash — the vegetable

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