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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. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. present — there
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. fine — high quality
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. present — the time now
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. tube — a container
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. bear — the animal
  15. deal — to handle
  16. mark — a grade
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. tube — the underground
  22. fine — all right
  23. bear — the animal
  24. mark — a trace

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