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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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. deal — to handle
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. rush — hurry
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. root — the cause
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. root — of a word
  18. root — of a plant
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. chip — to eat
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. chip — for betting
  24. trunk — of a car

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