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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. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. ball — a dance
  4. pass — a permit
  5. face — part of the head
  6. current — electric
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. face — to point toward
  9. face — to confront
  10. toast — bread
  11. snap — to click
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. current — of water
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. current — happening now
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. ball — a great time
  24. lie — to recline

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