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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. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. present — a gift
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. ground — the earth
  6. ground — a position
  7. ball — a great time
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. present — the time now
  11. mark — a grade
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. mark — a trace
  16. present — there
  17. ground — crushed
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. ball — a dance
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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