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

Word bank: present · leaves · trunk · pass · net · land · pit · scale

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. land — a country
  7. present — a gift
  8. present — the time now
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. pass — a permit
  11. net — for catching
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. pit — a hole
  14. land — to come down
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. present — there
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. scale — in music
  20. pit — in a race
  21. scale — size or range
  22. net — in sport
  23. net — after costs
  24. land — ground

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