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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. band — a ring
  3. spell — letters
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. object — to protest
  6. spell — a short time
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. spell — magic
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. object — a thing
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. pit — a hole
  14. charge — electricity
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. pass — a permit
  17. charge — in control
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. charge — a price
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. object — an aim
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. band — a music group

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