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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. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. rest — what's left
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. toast — bread
  7. mug — a face
  8. charge — a price
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. prune — to trim
  12. rest — a break
  13. mug — a cup
  14. content — happy
  15. rest — what's left
  16. mug — to rob
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. prune — to trim
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. charge — in control
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. charge — electricity

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