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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. can — to be able to
  3. mate — to breed
  4. mate — a friend
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. can — a tin
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. bulb — for light
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. squash — the sport
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. bulb — for light
  19. mate — a partner
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. can — a tin
  24. squash — to crush

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