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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  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. track — to keep track
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. wake — a trail
  5. bore — to drill
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. can — to be able to
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. ground — a position
  12. can — a tin
  13. track — a song
  14. ground — crushed
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. board — a committee
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. track — a path
  19. can — a tin
  20. bore — to tire
  21. board — to get on
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. ground — the earth
  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