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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. file — a line of people
  5. mine — for digging
  6. firm — a company
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. dip — to sink
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. firm — steady
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. file — a document
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. file — a tool
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. firm — decided

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