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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
468
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: pitcher · jam · object · safe · mug · last · straw · tear

  1. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  19. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. tear — from crying
  3. mug — to rob
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. straw — to clutch at straws
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. mug — a face
  8. last — to go on
  9. object — a thing
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. mug — a cup
  13. tear — to rip
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. last — final
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. last — finally
  19. straw — a straw man
  20. object — to protest
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. tear — from crying
  24. object — an aim

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