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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 girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. bear — the animal
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. rock — a stone
  6. file — a tool
  7. key — in music
  8. rock — music
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. key — for a lock
  12. file — a line of people
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. bear — the animal
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. key — the most important part
  18. file — a document
  19. row — to paddle
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. season — of the year
  22. season — in sport
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. pass — a permit

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