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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. rush — hurry
  4. roll — a list
  5. pass — a permit
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. mug — a face
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. kid — child
  10. mug — to rob
  11. roll — a cake
  12. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  13. fall — to drop
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. fall — to drop
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. fall — the season
  21. mug — a cup
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. kid — to tease

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