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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. False peace will not ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bear — the animal
  4. last — to go on
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. last — finally
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. staff — employees
  9. bat — the animal
  10. pass — a permit
  11. bat — for baseball
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. last — final
  14. toast — bread
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. staff — employees
  20. staff — a stick
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. bat — in an idiom
  23. rush — hurry
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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