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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. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a ring
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. can — to be able to
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. rock — a stone
  8. bear — the animal
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. band — a music group
  12. rock — music
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. dip — to sink
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. band — a rubber band
  17. bear — the animal
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — a tin
  20. deal — to handle
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. pass — a permit
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. rock — to move gently

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