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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. drill — army training
  3. stock — shares
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. mate — a partner
  6. pass — a permit
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. drill — a practice
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. perch — the fish
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. mate — a friend
  15. hand — in cards
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. stock — goods
  20. dip — to sink
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. mate — to breed
  23. drill — the tool
  24. hand — help

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