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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 116 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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. key — in music
  3. pass — a permit
  4. key — for a lock
  5. charge — a price
  6. squash — to crush
  7. charge — electricity
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. mine — for digging
  10. rock — a stone
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. fine — high quality
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. fine — all right
  18. rock — music
  19. pit — a hole
  20. charge — in control
  21. key — the most important part
  22. squash — the sport
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. mine — an explosive

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