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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 · racket · jam · dip · wake · bound · race · wind

  1. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  7. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. wake — a trail
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. wind — moving air
  7. wind — to turn a key
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. wind — moving air
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. bound — obliged
  15. pass — a permit
  16. bound — tied together
  17. bound — certain
  18. race — a contest
  19. dip — to sink
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. race — humankind
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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