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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. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. fall — to drop
  4. board — a committee
  5. key — in music
  6. mark — a grade
  7. spring — a coil
  8. suit — to fit
  9. suit — in cards
  10. mark — a trace
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. spring — the season
  15. suit — clothes
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. key — the most important part
  18. spring — of water
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. board — to get on
  21. fall — the season
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. fall — to drop
  24. key — for a lock

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