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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. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. roll — a list
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. board — a committee
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. can — a tin
  10. pass — a permit
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. can — a tin
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. board — to get on
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. rush — hurry
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. stem — to come from
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. can — to be able to
  23. roll — a cake
  24. roll — on a roll

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