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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  15. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. roll — a cake
  3. wind — moving air
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. suit — clothes
  11. roll — a list
  12. suit — to fit
  13. rock — a stone
  14. tear — from crying
  15. wind — moving air
  16. suit — in cards
  17. wind — to turn a key
  18. rock — music
  19. tear — to rip
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. tear — from crying
  22. pass — a permit
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. nail — for a hammer

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