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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 120 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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. suit — clothes
  3. degree — an amount
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. last — to go on
  7. suit — to fit
  8. last — final
  9. pass — a permit
  10. degree — temperature
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. face — to point toward
  15. last — finally
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. foot — a measure
  19. perch — the fish
  20. face — part of the head
  21. degree — from a university
  22. suit — in cards
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. face — to confront

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