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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. wound — an injury
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. wound — an injury
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. rush — hurry
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. sharp — clever
  15. field — farmland
  16. roll — a cake
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. mug — a face
  19. roll — a list
  20. field — for sport
  21. mug — to rob
  22. field — a subject
  23. mug — a cup
  24. pass — to succeed

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