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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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. perch — the fish
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. pop — to visit
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. spring — a coil
  10. shower — to wash
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. lie — to recline
  13. pop — music
  14. shower — rain
  15. pop — soda
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. pass — a permit
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. spring — of water
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. spring — the season
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. perch — for a bird

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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