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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. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. band — a ring
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. suit — to fit
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. sharp — clever
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. suit — in cards
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. bore — to tire
  14. suit — clothes
  15. pass — a permit
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. bore — to drill
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mouse — the animal

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