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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 train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. foot — a measure
  13. mine — for digging
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. straw — dry grass
  18. dip — to sink
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. rush — hurry
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. straw — a straw man
  24. stand — to bear

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