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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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. content — the amount
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. content — happy
  9. chip — to eat
  10. spell — letters
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. fine — high quality
  13. board — a committee
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. board — to get on
  16. spell — magic
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. spell — a short time
  20. chip — for betting
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. fine — all right
  24. board — a flat piece

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