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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. ground — the earth
  3. ground — crushed
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. stem — to come from
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. bear — the animal
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. can — to be able to
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. pit — a hole
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. can — a tin
  21. bear — the animal
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pit — in a race
  24. ground — a position

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