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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. rash — hasty
  4. rash — a series
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. pop — to visit
  8. can — a tin
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. firm — steady
  12. pass — a permit
  13. key — for a lock
  14. key — in music
  15. firm — decided
  16. can — to be able to
  17. cap — of ice
  18. key — the most important part
  19. pop — soda
  20. plane — a tool
  21. can — a tin
  22. cap — a lid
  23. firm — a company
  24. cap — a hat

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