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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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: track · arm · ground · pit · jam · key · bass · lash

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. ground — a position
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. key — in music
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. key — the most important part
  8. track — a path
  9. bass — the fish
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. ground — crushed
  12. track — to keep track
  13. bass — low music
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. track — a song
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. key — for a lock
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. ground — the earth
  23. pit — a hole
  24. arm — a part of something

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