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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. pitch — completely
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. straw — to clutch at straws
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. straw — dry grass
  19. sharp — clever
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. toast — bread
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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