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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. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. can — a tin
  3. ball — a great time
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. straw — to clutch at straws
  6. ball — a dance
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. can — a tin
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. can — to be able to
  14. toast — bread
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. straw — a straw man
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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