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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. can — a tin
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. rush — hurry
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. spell — magic
  9. board — to get on
  10. mug — a face
  11. pass — a permit
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. mug — to rob
  17. can — a tin
  18. board — a committee
  19. mug — a cup
  20. spell — letters
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. spell — a short time
  23. wake — a trail
  24. can — to be able to

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