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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. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. can — to be able to
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. rock — music
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. can — a tin
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. can — a tin
  13. mug — a face
  14. rock — a stone
  15. band — a ring
  16. mug — to rob
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. plane — a tool
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. mug — a cup
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. band — a music group
  24. jam — in traffic

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