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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.

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 · mouse · fall · roll · ball · saw · date · bay

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. roll — a cake
  4. fall — the season
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. pass — a permit
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. saw — the tool
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. ball — a dance
  13. date — the fruit
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. fall — to drop
  18. ball — a great time
  19. saw — the tool
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. fall — to drop

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