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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  22. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. rash — a series
  3. bank — for money
  4. mug — a face
  5. mug — a cup
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. bank — of a river
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. fall — to drop
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. date — the fruit
  13. rash — hasty
  14. fall — to drop
  15. pass — a permit
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. bank — for money
  20. fork — in a road
  21. fall — the season
  22. fork — a garden tool
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. mug — to rob

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