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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 120 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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. track — to keep track
  3. track — a song
  4. cue — a signal
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. pop — to visit
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. pit — a hole
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. track — a path
  11. cue — a hint
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. drill — army training
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. drill — a practice
  20. cue — for pool
  21. pop — soda
  22. drill — the tool
  23. pop — music
  24. arm — part of the body

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