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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. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. pitch — completely
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. craft — a skill
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. stem — to come from
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. bear — the animal
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. bear — the animal
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. roll — a cake
  21. craft — boats
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. roll — a list

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