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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. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. degree — an amount
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. degree — temperature
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. bore — to drill
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. bore — to tire
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. deal — to handle
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. degree — from a university
  19. can — to be able to
  20. squash — the sport
  21. can — a tin
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. squash — to crush
  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