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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: swing · pass · can · board · rule · date · mouse · rush

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. pass — a permit
  3. rule — to rule out
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. board — a committee
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. can — to be able to
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. swing — music
  14. rule — a law
  15. swing — to play on
  16. rush — hurry
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. date — the fruit
  19. can — a tin
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. can — a tin
  22. board — to get on
  23. swing — in golf
  24. rule — government

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