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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. chair — a professorship
  3. fine — high quality
  4. ball — a dance
  5. fine — all right
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. pit — a hole
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. chair — a leader
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. chair — to sit on
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. ball — a great time
  24. pass — a permit

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