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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. suit — clothes
  4. stock — shares
  5. hand — in cards
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. shower — to wash
  8. pass — a permit
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. mug — to rob
  12. suit — in cards
  13. suit — to fit
  14. stock — goods
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. hand — help
  17. mug — a face
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. mug — a cup
  20. shower — rain
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. jam — in traffic

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