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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.

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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: wave · swing · bore · row · season · cabinet · pass · stand

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. row — a line
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. row — to paddle
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. swing — to play on
  10. stand — to bear
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. pass — a permit
  13. swing — music
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. bore — to drill
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. bore — to tire
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. season — of the year
  23. season — in sport
  24. swing — in golf

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