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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. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — to rip
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. tear — from crying
  4. bear — the animal
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. rash — hasty
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. rule — a law
  9. season — of the year
  10. rule — government
  11. rash — a series
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. season — in sport
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. deal — to handle
  18. toast — bread
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. bear — the animal
  21. rule — to rule out
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. tear — from crying
  24. rash — on the skin

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