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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. rock — a stone
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. file — a line of people
  6. deal — to handle
  7. file — a tool
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. bear — the animal
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. bear — the animal
  14. rock — music
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. file — a document
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. squash — to crush
  20. bulb — for light
  21. squash — the sport
  22. bulb — for light
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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