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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. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. saw — the tool
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. cue — a signal
  6. bore — to tire
  7. pass — a permit
  8. season — in sport
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. cue — for pool
  12. bore — to drill
  13. saw — the tool
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. wax — to grow
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. wake — a trail
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. season — of the year
  21. scale — in music
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. scale — size or range
  24. cue — a hint

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