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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. track — a song
  3. mug — a face
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. object — a thing
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. bass — the fish
  11. bass — low music
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. track — to keep track
  14. track — a path
  15. mug — a cup
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. rush — hurry
  18. tube — the underground
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. object — to protest
  21. tube — a container
  22. object — an aim
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. mug — to rob

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