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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. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. tear — from crying
  6. can — to be able to
  7. board — to get on
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. can — a tin
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. saw — the tool
  15. foot — a measure
  16. board — a committee
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. can — a tin
  19. bore — to drill
  20. tear — from crying
  21. saw — the tool
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. bore — to tire
  24. tear — to rip

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