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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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. arm — a part of something
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. rush — hurry
  9. saw — the tool
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. saw — the tool
  16. track — to keep track
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. wax — to grow
  19. track — a song
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. track — a path
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. pass — a permit
  24. wax — in the ear

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