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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.

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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 · shower · scale · saw · pop · calf · season · mark

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. season — in sport
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. scale — size or range
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. pop — music
  9. pop — to visit
  10. mark — a grade
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. scale — in music
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. saw — the tool
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. mark — a trace
  19. pop — soda
  20. season — of the year
  21. saw — the tool
  22. pass — a permit
  23. shower — rain
  24. shower — to wash

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