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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. rash — hasty
  3. stand — to bear
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. rock — a stone
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. pass — a permit
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. mug — a cup
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. mug — to rob
  15. rock — music
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. content — the amount
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. rash — a series
  20. mug — a face
  21. content — happy
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. stand — for spectators

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