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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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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: wind · swing · pass · object · bear · hide · suit · club

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. wind — moving air
  3. bear — the animal
  4. suit — clothes
  5. wind — to turn a key
  6. club — for dancing
  7. swing — to play on
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. object — to protest
  10. suit — in cards
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. wind — moving air
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. club — for golf
  15. object — a thing
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. object — an aim
  18. suit — to fit
  19. swing — in golf
  20. pass — a permit
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. club — a group
  23. bear — the animal
  24. swing — music

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