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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 ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. He was locked up in a ________________.
  23. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. pass — a permit
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. bore — to drill
  7. cell — in biology
  8. club — for dancing
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. ground — the earth
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. wound — an injury
  13. cell — a phone
  14. club — for golf
  15. mark — a trace
  16. wound — an injury
  17. bore — to tire
  18. ground — a position
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. ground — crushed
  22. cell — in a prison
  23. club — a group
  24. safe — a strongbox

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