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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. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. degree — temperature
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. season — of the year
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. tube — the underground
  10. band — a ring
  11. degree — from a university
  12. band — a music group
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. rock — music
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. tube — a container
  19. season — in sport
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. degree — an amount
  22. foot — a measure
  23. rock — a stone
  24. tube — in a tire

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