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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 116 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: pass · bay · racket · season · saw · plane · scale · face

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. season — of the year
  3. face — to confront
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. saw — the tool
  6. scale — size or range
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. season — in sport
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. face — to point toward
  13. pass — a permit
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. face — part of the head
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. plane — a tool
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. scale — in music
  22. saw — the tool
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. scale — for weighing

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