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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. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. track — a song
  7. tube — a container
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. craft — boats
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. craft — a skill
  14. track — to keep track
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. tube — the underground
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. track — a path
  21. pop — soda
  22. pop — music
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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