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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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. toast — bread
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. staff — employees
  10. bank — for money
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. squash — the sport
  14. bank — for money
  15. staff — employees
  16. pitch — completely
  17. bank — of a river
  18. current — of water
  19. current — happening now
  20. current — electric
  21. squash — to crush
  22. mine — for digging
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. staff — a stick

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