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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. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. bore — to tire
  3. object — an aim
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. prune — to trim
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. roll — a cake
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. prune — to trim
  13. object — a thing
  14. roll — a list
  15. mug — a face
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. mark — a grade
  18. mug — a cup
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. mark — a trace
  21. mug — to rob
  22. bore — to drill
  23. prune — the fruit
  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