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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: squash · date · toast · charge · bark · present · pass · season

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. toast — bread
  4. present — the time now
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. charge — in control
  7. bark — of a tree
  8. charge — a price
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. season — of the year
  12. date — the fruit
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. charge — electricity
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. season — in sport
  18. bark — to shout
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. squash — the sport
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. present — there
  23. present — a gift
  24. squash — to crush

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