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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 116 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. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. mug — a face
  3. pass — a permit
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. face — part of the head
  7. squash — to crush
  8. face — to confront
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. firm — steady
  14. mug — a cup
  15. face — to point toward
  16. mug — to rob
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. firm — decided
  19. squash — the sport
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. firm — a company

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