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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: sharp · root · mouse · jam · fine · tear · ball · toast

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. fine — high quality
  3. tear — from crying
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. fine — all right
  7. tear — from crying
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. root — the cause
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. toast — bread
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. ball — a great time
  17. root — of a plant
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. ball — a dance
  20. tear — to rip
  21. root — of a word
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. sharp — clever

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