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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. current — happening now
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. ground — a position
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. current — electric
  10. date — the fruit
  11. mug — to rob
  12. content — the amount
  13. mug — a cup
  14. ground — crushed
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. mug — a face
  18. current — of water
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. ground — the earth
  22. content — happy
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. content — videos and posts

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