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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. track — a song
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. present — there
  6. last — final
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. bulb — for light
  11. present — the time now
  12. last — finally
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. last — to go on
  17. tube — a container
  18. track — to keep track
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. present — a gift
  21. tube — the underground
  22. bulb — for light
  23. rush — hurry
  24. track — a path

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