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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. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  17. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  18. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  19. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. club — for golf
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. pass — a permit
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. lean — thin
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. club — a group
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. club — for dancing
  17. tear — from crying
  18. tear — from crying
  19. tear — to rip
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. lean — to bend
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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