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

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. cue — a signal
  3. bank — for money
  4. bank — of a river
  5. bank — for money
  6. cue — for pool
  7. roll — a cake
  8. rock — a stone
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. net — for catching
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. rock — music
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. roll — a list
  16. season — of the year
  17. net — in sport
  18. season — in sport
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. cue — a hint
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. net — after costs
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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