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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. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. file — a line of people
  3. cue — a hint
  4. track — to keep track
  5. track — a song
  6. file — a tool
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. file — a document
  9. branch — a division
  10. tube — a container
  11. cue — for pool
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. scale — in music
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. scale — size or range
  17. track — a path
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. tube — the underground
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. pass — a permit
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. cue — a signal
  24. branch — of a tree

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