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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. mug — to rob
  4. root — of a word
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. key — the most important part
  8. key — for a lock
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. mark — a grade
  11. mug — a cup
  12. stock — goods
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. mark — a trace
  15. board — to get on
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. stock — shares
  18. mug — a face
  19. key — in music
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. root — of a plant
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. board — a committee
  24. root — the cause

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