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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. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. ground — crushed
  3. bank — for money
  4. current — electric
  5. current — of water
  6. ground — the earth
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. saw — the tool
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. deal — to handle
  12. can — to be able to
  13. can — a tin
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. can — a tin
  16. bank — for money
  17. ground — a position
  18. saw — the tool
  19. current — happening now
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. bank — of a river
  24. hide — animal skin

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