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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. toast — bread
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. row — a line
  7. pit — in a race
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. row — to paddle
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. saw — the tool
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. pit — a hole

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