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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 120 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 shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. fine — high quality
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. pit — a hole
  5. rock — music
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. suit — in cards
  11. fine — all right
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. pop — to visit
  14. suit — clothes
  15. pit — in a race
  16. pop — music
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. rush — hurry
  19. rock — a stone
  20. pop — soda
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. suit — to fit

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