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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. roll — a list
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. pound — for dogs
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. staff — employees
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. cell — a phone
  10. staff — employees
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. rash — hasty
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. cell — in biology
  18. staff — a stick
  19. pass — a permit
  20. lie — to recline
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. roll — a cake
  24. pound — a weight

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