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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 bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. can — a tin
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. pop — to visit
  7. can — to be able to
  8. pop — soda
  9. swing — to play on
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. march — music
  12. pop — music
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. march — the month
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. swing — music
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. rush — hurry
  22. march — the month
  23. can — a tin
  24. swing — in golf

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