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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. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. ground — the earth
  3. ground — crushed
  4. track — a path
  5. lean — thin
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. ground — a position
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. firm — steady
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. track — to keep track
  14. firm — a company
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. fork — in a road
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. lean — to bend
  20. track — a song
  21. firm — decided
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. jam — a tight spot

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