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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: pitcher · key · branch · bay · pit · spell · pass · saw

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. pit — in a race
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. spell — magic
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. branch — a division
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. saw — the tool
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. spell — a short time
  13. saw — the tool
  14. pit — a hole
  15. key — in music
  16. key — the most important part
  17. spell — letters
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pass — a permit
  21. key — for a lock
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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