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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 116 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 thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. pass — a permit
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. mine — for digging
  9. row — to paddle
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. rash — a series
  13. bear — the animal
  14. row — a line
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. rash — hasty
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. deal — to handle
  22. bear — the animal
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. bear — to put up with

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