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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. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. row — a line
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. pass — a permit
  10. can — a tin
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. can — a tin
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. bound — obliged
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. can — to be able to
  18. bound — tied together
  19. bound — certain
  20. mark — a grade
  21. row — to paddle
  22. snap — to click
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. mark — a trace

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