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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. scale — size or range
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. tube — a container
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. stand — to bear
  13. chair — a leader
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. tube — the underground
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. scale — in music
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. chair — to sit on

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