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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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. bear — the animal
  4. date — the fruit
  5. roll — a list
  6. bear — the animal
  7. mate — a friend
  8. mark — a trace
  9. mate — a partner
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. mark — a grade
  12. roll — a cake
  13. mug — a cup
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. mug — a face
  16. foot — a measure
  17. mate — to breed
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. lean — thin
  21. lean — to bend
  22. mug — to rob
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. lean — to rest against

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