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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.

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 · mug · object · kid · coach · bear · saw · file

  1. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — to tease
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. file — a document
  5. file — a line of people
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. bear — the animal
  8. object — an aim
  9. saw — the tool
  10. pass — a permit
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. mug — to rob
  14. file — a tool
  15. mug — a cup
  16. object — a thing
  17. saw — the tool
  18. object — to protest
  19. mug — a face
  20. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. bear — the animal
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. kid — child

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