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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 soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. last — to go on
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. staff — employees
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. bass — the fish
  9. drill — a practice
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. drill — the tool
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. last — finally
  14. staff — a stick
  15. staff — employees
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. bass — low music
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. pass — a permit
  24. last — final

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