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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. net — in sport
  6. cue — for pool
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. stand — to bear
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. net — after costs
  12. cue — a hint
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. cue — a signal
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. bear — the animal
  21. prune — to trim
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. net — for catching
  24. prune — to trim

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