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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. mate — a partner
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. mug — to rob
  8. mug — a face
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. ball — a dance
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. deal — to handle
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. mate — a friend
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. dip — to sink
  19. chair — a leader
  20. mate — to breed
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. mug — a cup
  24. ball — a great time

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