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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. He was locked up in a ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. mate — to breed
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — a tin
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. cell — a phone
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. cell — in a prison
  14. bound — obliged
  15. bound — certain
  16. mate — a friend
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. mate — a partner
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. can — to be able to
  21. cell — in biology
  22. bound — tied together
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. jam — in traffic

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