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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. tube — the underground
  3. board — a committee
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. pit — a hole
  13. saw — the tool
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. board — to get on
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pit — in a race
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. tube — a container
  22. saw — the tool
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. safe — out of danger

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