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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. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. roll — a cake
  3. wake — a trail
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. root — of a plant
  6. pit — in a race
  7. root — of a word
  8. pass — a permit
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. bark — to shout
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. pit — a hole
  14. mark — a grade
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. mark — a trace
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. roll — a list
  23. root — the cause
  24. date — the fruit

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