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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. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. suit — in cards
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. content — the amount
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. mark — a grade
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. suit — clothes
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. suit — to fit
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. roll — a list
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. mark — a trace
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. content — happy

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