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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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. race — humankind
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. craft — boats
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. race — the arms race
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. foot — a measure
  15. race — a contest
  16. bass — low music
  17. snap — to click
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. craft — a skill
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. bass — the fish

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