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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. object — a thing
  3. fine — high quality
  4. ground — the earth
  5. pop — soda
  6. rash — a series
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. object — to protest
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. craft — a skill
  14. fine — all right
  15. pop — to visit
  16. ground — crushed
  17. pop — music
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. rash — hasty
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. ground — a position
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. object — an aim
  24. craft — boats

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