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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. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. can — to be able to
  6. present — the time now
  7. perch — the fish
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. suit — in cards
  10. stock — shares
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. can — a tin
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. suit — to fit
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. can — a tin
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. suit — clothes
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. present — a gift
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. stock — goods

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