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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. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. board — a committee
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. perch — the fish
  9. foot — a measure
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. lie — to recline
  12. band — a ring
  13. toast — bread
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. band — a music group
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. bear — the animal
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. bear — the animal
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. board — to get on

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