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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 120 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 · plane · temple · mate · rush · mouse · pit · ground

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. ground — a position
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. pit — a hole
  8. plane — a tool
  9. mate — a partner
  10. ground — the earth
  11. mate — to breed
  12. pit — in a race
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. rush — hurry
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. pass — a permit
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. ground — crushed
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. temple — a place of worship

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