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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. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. bear — the animal
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. suit — to fit
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. straw — to clutch at straws
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. bear — the animal
  12. suit — clothes
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. suit — in cards
  18. ball — a great time
  19. ball — a dance
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. bulb — for light
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. bulb — for light

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