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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. row — to paddle
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. vault — a safe
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. mark — a trace
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. branch — a division
  20. row — a line
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. mark — a grade
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. jam — a tight spot

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