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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. pass — a permit
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. row — to paddle
  6. drill — army training
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. bound — obliged
  9. drill — the tool
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. pit — a hole
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. drill — a practice
  15. row — a line
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. pitch — completely
  18. bound — certain
  19. bound — tied together
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. pit — in a race
  22. stem — to come from
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. stem — 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