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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  19. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. roll — a list
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. pop — soda
  6. pop — music
  7. fine — high quality
  8. suit — clothes
  9. roll — a cake
  10. pit — in a race
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. suit — to fit
  13. suit — in cards
  14. pit — a hole
  15. chest — of your body
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. fine — all right
  18. chest — of your body
  19. chest — a box
  20. key — for a lock
  21. key — the most important part
  22. pass — a permit
  23. key — in music
  24. pop — to visit

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