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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: date · pass · rush · clip · jam · press · patient · track

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. clip — a video
  4. rush — hurry
  5. press — newspapers
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. pass — a permit
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. track — a song
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. date — the fruit
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. clip — for paper
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. press — a publisher
  19. press — to push
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. track — to keep track
  24. clip — to cut

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