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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. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. bat — in an idiom
  3. object — an aim
  4. face — part of the head
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. face — to point toward
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — a tin
  11. object — to protest
  12. bass — low music
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. bass — the fish
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. bat — the animal
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. can — to be able to
  20. dip — to sink
  21. object — a thing
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. face — to confront
  24. bat — for baseball

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