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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. court — of law
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. court — of a king
  8. court — for sport
  9. can — a tin
  10. present — a gift
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. present — the time now
  13. can — a tin
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. can — to be able to
  18. snap — to click

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