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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. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. bound — tied together
  5. lie — to recline
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. land — a country
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. land — ground
  10. bulb — for light
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. land — to come down
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. toast — bread
  15. bound — obliged
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. bound — certain
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. bulb — for light
  20. deal — to handle
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. jam — in traffic

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