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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 116 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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. mine — for digging
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. fine — high quality
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. last — to go on
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. fine — all right
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. last — finally
  18. stock — shares
  19. stock — goods
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. pass — a permit
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. last — final
  24. mine — an explosive

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