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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. drill — the tool
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. pit — a hole
  7. drill — a practice
  8. fall — the season
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. mug — a face
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. bulb — for light
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. mug — to rob
  16. pit — in a race
  17. mug — a cup
  18. drill — army training
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. foot — a measure
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. fall — to drop
  23. fall — to drop
  24. bulb — for light

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