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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: tube · pass · fine · jam · stick · snap · cue · saw

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. pass — a permit
  4. cue — a hint
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. saw — the tool
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. tube — a container
  12. cue — a signal
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. saw — the tool
  16. fine — high quality
  17. fine — all right
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. snap — to click
  20. tube — the underground
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. cue — for pool
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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