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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.

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: roll · pass · racket · season · face · drill · nail · cell

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. He was locked up in a ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. drill — a practice
  3. season — in sport
  4. pass — a permit
  5. drill — army training
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. face — to confront
  9. drill — the tool
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. roll — a cake
  12. cell — a phone
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. season — of the year
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. cell — in a prison
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. cell — in biology
  23. face — to point toward
  24. face — part of the head

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