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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. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. ball — a dance
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. suit — in cards
  7. ball — a great time
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. deal — to handle
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. suit — clothes
  15. wax — to grow
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. suit — to fit
  24. foot — a measure

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