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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: roll · firm · date · craft · pass · lie · present · ball

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. present — there
  3. ball — a dance
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. firm — a company
  6. firm — decided
  7. firm — steady
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. date — the fruit
  13. roll — a cake
  14. roll — a list
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. pass — a permit
  18. craft — boats
  19. craft — a skill
  20. present — the time now
  21. lie — to recline
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. ball — a great time
  24. present — a gift

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