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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. ball — a great time
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. lean — thin
  8. pass — a permit
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. ball — a dance
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. lean — to bend
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. prune — to trim
  21. plane — a tool
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. prune — to trim
  24. wake — a trail

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