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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 ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. wound — an injury
  4. can — a tin
  5. fall — to drop
  6. bank — of a river
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. fall — to drop
  9. fall — the season
  10. can — to be able to
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. bank — for money
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. wound — an injury
  17. pass — a permit
  18. can — a tin
  19. bank — for money
  20. dip — to sink
  21. roll — a cake
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. roll — a list

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