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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. David sat on the ________________.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. swing — music
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. swing — to play on
  5. ground — the earth
  6. drill — army training
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. ground — a position
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. rock — a stone
  14. land — to come down
  15. land — a country
  16. drill — a practice
  17. land — ground
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. rock — music
  20. swing — in golf
  21. ground — crushed
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. pass — a permit
  24. drill — the tool

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