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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: pass · roll · season · rush · calf · court · pitcher · snap

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. snap — to click
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pass — a permit
  12. court — for sport
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. court — of law
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. roll — a cake
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. season — of the year
  19. roll — a list
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. rush — hurry
  22. season — in sport
  23. court — of a king
  24. rush — to hurry

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