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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. foot — a measure
  8. rush — hurry
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. firm — decided
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. ball — a great time
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. cue — for pool
  17. ball — a dance
  18. firm — steady
  19. cue — a signal
  20. cue — a hint
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. firm — a company

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