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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. ball — a great time
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. ground — a position
  5. bulb — for light
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. ground — the earth
  8. mark — a grade
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. mark — a trace
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. season — in sport
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. season — of the year
  18. bear — the animal
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. ground — crushed
  21. bulb — for light
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. bear — the animal
  24. ball — a dance

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