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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. lean — to bend
  4. pop — soda
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. rest — a break
  8. rush — hurry
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. rest — what's left
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. tube — the underground
  13. rest — what's left
  14. pop — to visit
  15. tube — a container
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. pop — music
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. plane — a tool
  23. lean — thin
  24. tube — in a tire

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