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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. pass — a permit
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. suit — clothes
  5. pop — soda
  6. sharp — clever
  7. drill — a practice
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. drill — the tool
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. suit — to fit
  14. fine — high quality
  15. drill — army training
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. pop — to visit
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. fine — all right
  21. suit — in cards
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. ruler — for measuring

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