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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 band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. march — the month
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. season — in sport
  11. bulb — for light
  12. saw — the tool
  13. saw — the tool
  14. deal — to handle
  15. march — the month
  16. season — of the year
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. season — to add flavour

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