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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. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. club — for dancing
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. mug — a cup
  6. mark — a trace
  7. mark — a grade
  8. present — there
  9. stem — to come from
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. club — a group
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. mug — to rob
  16. club — for golf
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. present — the time now
  19. plane — a tool
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. present — a gift
  22. mug — a face
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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