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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pass — a permit
  3. bound — certain
  4. cue — for pool
  5. saw — the tool
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. bound — tied together
  9. cue — a hint
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. saw — the tool
  12. perch — the fish
  13. wax — to grow
  14. bound — obliged
  15. scale — in music
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. cue — a signal
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. scale — size or range

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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