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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. rush — hurry
  6. pass — a permit
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. mate — a friend
  12. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  13. kid — to tease
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. mate — to breed
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. mate — a partner
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. kid — child
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. rush — to hurry

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