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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. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. fall — to drop
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. pass — a permit
  5. staff — employees
  6. drill — the tool
  7. drill — a practice
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. rush — hurry
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. prune — to trim
  13. drill — army training
  14. fall — to drop
  15. charge — electricity
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. charge — in control
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. staff — employees
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. staff — a stick
  22. charge — a price
  23. prune — to trim
  24. fall — the season

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