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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. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. ground — a position
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. mark — a grade
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. ground — the earth
  8. bat — for baseball
  9. sharp — clever
  10. mug — to rob
  11. bat — in an idiom
  12. ground — crushed
  13. mark — a trace
  14. pass — a permit
  15. bat — the animal
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. mug — a cup
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. mug — a face
  24. temple — a place of worship

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