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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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. branch — a division
  7. bear — the animal
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. bear — the animal
  10. bound — tied together
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. bound — certain
  13. pass — a permit
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. rock — music
  16. bound — obliged
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. kid — child
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. kid — to tease
  22. rock — a stone
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  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