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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 hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. spring — a coil
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. fine — high quality
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. track — a path
  8. can — a tin
  9. bulb — for light
  10. track — to keep track
  11. can — a tin
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. track — a song
  17. pass — a permit
  18. spring — the season
  19. can — to be able to
  20. bulb — for light
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. fine — all right

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