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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.

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 · game · file · plane · row · rush · bay · face

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. pass — a permit
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. face — to point toward
  5. face — to confront
  6. game — a match
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. row — a line
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. file — a document
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. rush — hurry
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. plane — a tool
  18. game — wild animals
  19. file — a line of people
  20. face — part of the head
  21. file — a tool
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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