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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. game — a match
  5. game — wild animals
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. face — to confront
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. cue — a hint
  10. pitch — completely
  11. cue — for pool
  12. content — happy
  13. cue — a signal
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. face — to point toward
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. content — the amount
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. face — part of the head
  24. pass — a permit

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