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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. can — a tin
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. band — a ring
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. can — to be able to
  12. sharp — clever
  13. can — a tin
  14. stem — to come from
  15. pass — a permit
  16. pitch — completely
  17. key — for a lock
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. key — in music
  20. key — the most important part
  21. band — a music group
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. stem — of a plant

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