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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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. charge — electricity
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. season — in sport
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. craft — a skill
  13. shower — rain
  14. charge — a price
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. craft — boats
  18. season — of the year
  19. dip — to sink
  20. charge — in control
  21. shower — to wash
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. ruler — for measuring

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