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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 120 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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. march — the month
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. object — an aim
  8. march — the month
  9. mate — to breed
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. bulb — for light
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pass — a permit
  15. mark — a trace
  16. object — to protest
  17. mate — a friend
  18. mark — a grade
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. march — music
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. mate — a partner
  24. bulb — of a plant

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