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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. can — to be able to
  3. lie — to recline
  4. pitch — completely
  5. fine — all right
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. pop — music
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. current — happening now
  10. pop — soda
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. can — a tin
  14. bore — to drill
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. current — of water
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. pop — to visit
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. current — electric
  22. bore — to tire
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. can — a tin

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