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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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. firm — steady
  4. date — the fruit
  5. chip — for betting
  6. rush — hurry
  7. roll — a list
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. bear — the animal
  14. chip — to eat
  15. firm — a company
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. roll — a cake
  21. bear — the animal
  22. foot — a measure
  23. firm — decided
  24. rush — to hurry

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