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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. track — a song
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. season — of the year
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. drill — the tool
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. pop — to visit
  12. pop — music
  13. pop — soda
  14. track — to keep track
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. pass — a permit
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. track — a path
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. season — in sport
  23. date — the fruit
  24. drill — a practice

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