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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. mark — a trace
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. mark — a grade
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. bulb — for light
  9. ground — a position
  10. snap — to click
  11. bulb — for light
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. board — a committee
  14. present — there
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. pass — a permit
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. board — to get on
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. ground — crushed
  23. present — a gift
  24. ground — the earth

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