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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 bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. march — the month
  3. bank — for money
  4. saw — the tool
  5. spell — magic
  6. march — music
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. bank — for money
  9. saw — the tool
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. spell — a short time
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. bank — of a river
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. content — the amount
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. march — the month
  21. spell — letters
  22. lie — to recline
  23. content — happy
  24. lie — an untruth

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