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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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. bank — for money
  5. roll — a cake
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. can — a tin
  9. pass — a permit
  10. craft — a skill
  11. can — to be able to
  12. bore — to tire
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. bank — of a river
  18. craft — boats
  19. date — the fruit
  20. can — a tin
  21. roll — a list
  22. bore — to drill
  23. bank — for money
  24. patient — a sick person

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