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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. current — electric
  6. deal — to handle
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. can — to be able to
  9. can — a tin
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. cap — a lid
  12. current — of water
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. cap — a hat
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. wax — to grow
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. can — a tin
  21. current — happening now
  22. cap — of ice
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. bowl — a football final

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