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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 bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. ground — crushed
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. roll — a cake
  6. pass — a permit
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. plane — a tool
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. roll — a list
  12. cap — a lid
  13. ground — a position
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. rush — hurry
  16. cap — of ice
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. ground — the earth
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. cap — a hat

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