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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: bowl · snap · dip · jam · bear · staff · rock · game

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  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. bear — to put up with
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. staff — employees
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. staff — employees
  6. bear — the animal
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. staff — a stick
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. bear — the animal
  14. game — wild animals
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. dip — to sink
  17. snap — to click
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. rock — a stone
  20. game — a match
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. rock — music
  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