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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. bark — a dog's sound
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. track — a path
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. rash — a series
  7. track — to keep track
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. lie — to recline
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. rash — hasty
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. bark — to shout
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. dip — to sink
  20. track — a song
  21. pass — a permit
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. lie — an untruth

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