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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. game — a match
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. key — in music
  8. game — wild animals
  9. key — for a lock
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. key — the most important part
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. bear — the animal
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. can — a tin
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. can — to be able to
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. toast — bread
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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