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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 124 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. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. rest — what's left
  3. drill — the tool
  4. drill — a practice
  5. bore — to tire
  6. rest — what's left
  7. drill — army training
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. toast — bread
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. pass — a permit
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. bore — to drill
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. fine — high quality
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. rest — a break
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. fine — all right
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. pitch — completely

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