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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're on a ________________ here.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  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. roll — on a roll
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. rock — music
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. game — wild animals
  8. fine — all right
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. game — a match
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. fine — high quality
  17. roll — a list
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. rock — a stone
  20. roll — a cake
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. wake — a trail
  23. pass — to succeed
  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