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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: roll · stick · saw · mate · leaves · bore · mug · pass

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. saw — the tool
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. roll — a list
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. mate — to breed
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. mate — a friend
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. mate — a partner
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. bore — to drill
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. mug — to rob
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. mug — a cup
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. saw — the tool
  21. roll — a cake
  22. bore — to tire
  23. pass — a permit
  24. mug — a face

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