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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 116 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 girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. row — a line
  3. season — of the year
  4. face — to confront
  5. face — part of the head
  6. can — a tin
  7. face — to point toward
  8. season — in sport
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. can — a tin
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. can — to be able to
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. pass — a permit
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. sharp — clever
  21. row — to paddle
  22. lie — to recline
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. pass — to succeed

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