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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. can — to be able to
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. deal — to handle
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. foot — a measure
  12. bore — to tire
  13. court — of a king
  14. court — for sport
  15. rash — hasty
  16. court — of law
  17. rash — a series
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. bore — to drill
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. stem — to come from
  23. foot — part of the body
  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