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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.

Make a worksheet

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: season · fork · fine · mark · lash · game · pass · march

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. fine — all right
  3. pass — a permit
  4. march — music
  5. game — a match
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. mark — a trace
  8. fork — in a road
  9. game — wild animals
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. mark — a grade
  14. season — in sport
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. season — of the year
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. march — the month
  19. fine — high quality
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. march — the month
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. pass — to succeed

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