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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. The water is too ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. bear — the animal
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. pass — a permit
  5. mark — a grade
  6. cold — an illness
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. cold — the Cold War
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. bulb — for light
  14. lie — to recline
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bear — the animal
  18. cold — not warm
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. mark — a trace
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. bulb — for light
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. coach — a trainer

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