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

Word bank: tube · jam · snap · bear · bowl · patient · dip · deal

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. tube — a container
  3. bear — the animal
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. deal — to handle
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. tube — the underground
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. bear — the animal
  16. snap — to click
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. bowl — a dish

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