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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  9. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. suit — clothes
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. roll — a cake
  6. suit — to fit
  7. suit — in cards
  8. degree — temperature
  9. degree — from a university
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. degree — an amount
  12. prune — to trim
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. prune — to trim
  15. pass — a permit
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. toast — bread
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. roll — a list
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. toast — the most admired

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