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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.

Make a worksheet

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: jam · wake · leaves · pitch · bear · fine · toast · roll

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. wake — a trail
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. roll — a list
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. roll — a cake
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. fine — high quality
  14. bear — the animal
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. toast — bread
  19. fine — all right
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. pitch — completely

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