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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. present — the time now
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. rock — music
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. rock — a stone
  10. can — a tin
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. bulb — for light
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. can — a tin
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. bulb — for light
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. present — a gift
  23. date — the fruit
  24. present — there

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