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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. cue — a signal
  3. bore — to tire
  4. mark — a trace
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. mark — a grade
  8. wake — a trail
  9. scale — in music
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. cue — for pool
  12. cue — a hint
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. season — in sport
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. season — of the year
  20. perch — the fish
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. scale — size or range
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. bore — to drill

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