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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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. content — the amount
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. firm — a company
  6. pop — soda
  7. content — happy
  8. mug — a face
  9. craft — a skill
  10. firm — decided
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. craft — boats
  13. toast — bread
  14. mug — a cup
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. pop — music
  17. mug — to rob
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. pop — to visit
  21. firm — steady
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. nail — for a hammer

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