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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 players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. track — a song
  4. prune — to trim
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. scale — size or range
  7. mug — a face
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. bulb — for light
  11. wound — an injury
  12. prune — to trim
  13. bulb — for light
  14. track — a path
  15. pitch — completely
  16. mug — to rob
  17. wound — an injury
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. mug — a cup
  21. scale — in music
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. track — to keep track
  24. pass — a permit

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