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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. roll — a cake
  6. wake — a trail
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bear — the animal
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. fine — all right
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. roll — a list
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. mug — a cup
  17. mug — a face
  18. fine — high quality
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mouse — for a computer

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