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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: hand · chair · pop · current · pass · march · arm · pit

  1. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. march — the month
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. pop — soda
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. pop — music
  8. chair — to sit on
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. march — the month
  11. pit — in a race
  12. march — music
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. current — electric
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. chair — a leader
  17. pass — a permit
  18. pit — a hole
  19. current — happening now
  20. current — of water
  21. pop — to visit
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. hand — help

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