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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. bank — for money
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. bear — the animal
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. bear — the animal
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. bank — of a river
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. bank — for money
  18. sharp — clever
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. straw — a straw man
  24. arm — part of the body

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