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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: pass · bear · saw · staff · deal · rush · lie · rock

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. rush — hurry
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. pass — a permit
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. rock — a stone
  9. saw — the tool
  10. staff — employees
  11. staff — a stick
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. bear — the animal
  14. saw — the tool
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. lie — to recline
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. bear — the animal
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. staff — employees
  23. deal — to handle
  24. deal — a big deal

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