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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. kid — child
  3. key — the most important part
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. pop — soda
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. snap — to click
  8. pop — to visit
  9. firm — decided
  10. pass — a permit
  11. mug — a face
  12. key — in music
  13. bass — the fish
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  16. mug — to rob
  17. bass — low music
  18. firm — a company
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. firm — steady
  21. kid — to tease
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. key — for a lock
  24. pop — music

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