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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
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: tube · straw · pop · arm · mark · key · pass · fine

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. fine — high quality
  3. key — in music
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. tube — the underground
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. tube — a container
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. key — for a lock
  11. pop — music
  12. pass — a permit
  13. key — the most important part
  14. fine — all right
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. straw — to clutch at straws
  17. mark — a trace
  18. pop — soda
  19. straw — a straw man
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. straw — dry grass
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. mark — a grade

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