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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.

Make a worksheet

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: pass · clip · leaves · bear · plane · vault · game · rash

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. pass — a permit
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. game — a match
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. rash — a series
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. clip — a video
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. game — wild animals
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. vault — a safe
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. bear — the animal
  20. bear — the animal
  21. rash — hasty
  22. clip — to cut
  23. clip — for paper
  24. plane — in geometry

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