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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. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — of a tree
  2. spell — a short time
  3. last — finally
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. bark — to shout
  7. saw — the tool
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. spell — letters
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. bass — low music
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. last — final
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. bass — the fish
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. last — to go on
  23. spell — magic
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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