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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. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. lean — thin
  4. firm — a company
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. stock — goods
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. swing — music
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. toast — bread
  12. swing — to play on
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. firm — steady
  16. stock — shares
  17. lean — to bend
  18. firm — decided
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. swing — in golf
  24. jam — a tight spot

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