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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.

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: bear · can · scale · toast · pit · pass · sharp · object

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. object — an aim
  4. pit — in a race
  5. can — to be able to
  6. scale — size or range
  7. object — a thing
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. object — to protest
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. scale — in music
  12. can — a tin
  13. bear — the animal
  14. sharp — clever
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. can — a tin
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. bear — the animal
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. toast — bread
  24. pit — a hole

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