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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. mug — to rob
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. object — an aim
  7. mug — a cup
  8. ground — a position
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. ground — crushed
  12. pit — a hole
  13. ground — the earth
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. cap — of ice
  17. cap — a lid
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. object — to protest
  20. sharp — clever
  21. cap — a hat
  22. mug — a face
  23. object — a thing
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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