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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. rush — hurry
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. prune — to trim
  8. prune — to trim
  9. bank — for money
  10. bank — for money
  11. craft — boats
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. land — to come down
  14. bank — of a river
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. land — a country
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. land — ground
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. craft — a skill

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