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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. sharp — clever
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. wake — a trail
  5. track — to keep track
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. bear — the animal
  8. deal — to handle
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. track — a path
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. bear — the animal
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. stand — to bear
  24. track — a song

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