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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. spell — magic
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. mark — a grade
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. date — the fruit
  14. rash — hasty
  15. spell — a short time
  16. mark — a trace
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. toast — bread
  20. rash — a series
  21. spell — letters
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. foot — a measure
  24. mark — to pay attention

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