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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. saw — the tool
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. rock — music
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. saw — the tool
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. wake — a trail
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. foot — a measure
  24. rock — a stone

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