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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  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. mark — a trace
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. file — a document
  7. mark — a grade
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. file — a tool
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. mug — a face
  13. mug — to rob
  14. tube — a container
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. wind — moving air
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. tube — the underground
  19. wind — to turn a key
  20. mug — a cup
  21. file — a line of people
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. wind — moving air
  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