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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. spell — letters
  5. prune — to trim
  6. pop — to visit
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. key — for a lock
  9. key — in music
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. spell — a short time
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. prune — to trim
  16. pop — soda
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. spell — magic
  22. pop — music
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. key — the most important part

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