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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. bass — the fish
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. bass — low music
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. pass — a permit
  11. saw — the tool
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. cue — a signal
  14. tube — a container
  15. cue — for pool
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. saw — the tool
  20. tube — the underground
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. cue — a hint
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. patient — a sick person

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