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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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. key — for a lock
  4. mate — a partner
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. march — music
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. chip — for betting
  11. current — electric
  12. chip — to eat
  13. march — the month
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. march — the month
  17. mine — for digging
  18. mate — to breed
  19. current — of water
  20. key — the most important part
  21. key — in music
  22. mate — a friend
  23. current — happening now
  24. mine — belonging to me

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