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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 120 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: saw · season · wake · rash · pass · staff · swing · dip

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. season — of the year
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. rash — a series
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. swing — to play on
  8. staff — employees
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. swing — music
  11. staff — employees
  12. dip — to sink
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. pass — a permit
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. season — in sport
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. rash — hasty
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. saw — the tool
  22. staff — a stick
  23. saw — the tool
  24. wake — a trail

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