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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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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: tube · cue · jam · pop · temple · track · pit · mug

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. mug — a face
  3. track — to keep track
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. cue — a hint
  7. mug — to rob
  8. cue — for pool
  9. cue — a signal
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. track — a path
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. pit — in a race
  15. pop — music
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. pop — soda
  18. tube — a container
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. tube — the underground
  21. pop — to visit
  22. mug — a cup
  23. pit — a hole
  24. track — a song

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