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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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. rock — a stone
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. row — a line
  5. kick — with a leg
  6. tube — a container
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. tube — the underground
  10. pop — to visit
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. kick — in football
  13. rock — music
  14. key — in music
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. pop — music
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. key — the most important part
  22. pass — a permit
  23. key — for a lock
  24. pop — soda

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