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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. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. mark — a trace
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. mark — a grade
  6. file — a document
  7. pass — a permit
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. file — a line of people
  10. object — a thing
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. staff — a stick
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. object — to protest
  20. file — a tool
  21. staff — employees
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. object — an aim

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