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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. can — to be able to
  4. foot — a measure
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. wind — moving air
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. can — a tin
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. wind — to turn a key
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. board — a committee
  14. deal — to handle
  15. board — to get on
  16. wind — moving air
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. straw — a straw man
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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