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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. suit — in cards
  4. land — ground
  5. suit — clothes
  6. lean — thin
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. land — a country
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. lean — to bend
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. land — to come down
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. foot — a measure
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. suit — to fit
  20. key — for a lock
  21. key — the most important part
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. key — in music

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