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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 hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. firm — decided
  3. firm — steady
  4. mark — a grade
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. date — the fruit
  9. hand — in cards
  10. rock — a stone
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. firm — a company
  14. rock — music
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. bore — to tire
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. bore — to drill
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. hand — help
  24. rush — hurry

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