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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. net — in sport
  4. staff — employees
  5. scale — in music
  6. staff — a stick
  7. net — for catching
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. staff — employees
  13. scale — size or range
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. pass — a permit
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. net — after costs
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. perch — the fish
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. leaves — 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