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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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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: ground · leaves · jam · dip · can · bear · coach · rest

  1. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — a break
  2. ground — the earth
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. can — to be able to
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. dip — to sink
  13. bear — the animal
  14. ground — a position
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. ground — crushed
  18. rest — what's left
  19. rest — what's left
  20. bear — the animal
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — a tin
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. dip — to dunk

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