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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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. can — to be able to
  3. ball — a great time
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. mark — a trace
  7. swing — music
  8. ball — a dance
  9. swing — in golf
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. mark — a grade
  12. root — of a plant
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. root — the cause
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. can — a tin
  18. can — a tin
  19. dip — to sink
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. swing — to play on
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. root — of a word
  24. stand — to bear

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