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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. plane — a tool
  3. can — a tin
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. bear — the animal
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. spell — letters
  8. ball — a great time
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. spell — magic
  11. bear — the animal
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. can — a tin
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. spell — a short time
  17. can — to be able to
  18. ball — a dance

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