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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. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. bore — to tire
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. swing — to play on
  9. bore — to drill
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. mark — a grade
  12. swing — in golf
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. prune — to trim
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. mark — a trace
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. swing — music
  24. prune — to trim

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