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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 was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. ball — a great time
  3. track — to keep track
  4. perch — the fish
  5. pitch — completely
  6. cap — a lid
  7. pass — a permit
  8. track — a path
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. ground — the earth
  11. dip — to sink
  12. ground — a position
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. ground — crushed
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. cap — of ice
  18. track — a song
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. cap — a hat
  21. ball — a dance
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. dip — a sauce

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