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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 116 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. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. charge — electricity
  8. fall — the season
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. charge — in control
  12. charge — a price
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. deal — to handle
  17. fall — to drop
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. wax — to grow
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. fall — to drop

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