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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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. key — for a lock
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. bear — the animal
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. lean — to bend
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. pass — a permit
  11. mate — a partner
  12. key — in music
  13. lean — thin
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. mate — a friend
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. mate — to breed
  19. bear — the animal
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. key — the most important part
  23. foot — a measure
  24. lean — to rest against

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