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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. current — happening now
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. foot — a measure
  10. can — a tin
  11. root — of a word
  12. pass — a permit
  13. season — in sport
  14. current — of water
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. root — of a plant
  17. current — electric
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. season — of the year
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. can — to be able to
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. root — the cause

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