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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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 pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  16. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. game — wild animals
  3. game — a match
  4. wind — to turn a key
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. pass — a permit
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. charge — electricity
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. charge — a price
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. wind — moving air
  14. charge — in control
  15. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  16. wind — moving air
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. pitch — completely
  23. kid — child
  24. kid — to tease

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