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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. bound — certain
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. pass — a permit
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. cell — in biology
  12. bound — obliged
  13. band — a music group
  14. sharp — clever
  15. bass — the fish
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. bound — tied together
  21. bass — low music
  22. cell — a phone
  23. band — a ring
  24. sharp — with an edge

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