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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  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. pass — to succeed
  2. kick — in football
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. present — the time now
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. can — to be able to
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. can — a tin
  11. branch — a division
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. kick — a thrill
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. can — a tin
  21. present — there
  22. present — a gift
  23. kick — with a leg
  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