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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. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. object — an aim
  4. mate — to breed
  5. object — a thing
  6. mate — a friend
  7. suit — to fit
  8. pop — soda
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. suit — clothes
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. suit — in cards
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. mate — a partner
  16. object — to protest
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. pop — music
  19. pop — to visit
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. pass — a permit
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. bowl — to roll

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