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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. ball — a dance
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. roll — a list
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. roll — a cake
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. row — to paddle
  20. ball — a great time
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. row — a line

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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