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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: pass · arm · pit · safe · dip · wake · cap · spell

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. pit — in a race
  3. cap — of ice
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. dip — to sink
  7. pit — a hole
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. pass — a permit
  16. cap — a hat
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. spell — letters
  19. spell — a short time
  20. cap — a lid
  21. wake — a trail
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. spell — magic
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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