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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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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 · key · bank · rock · tube · mug

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. mug — a cup
  5. key — the most important part
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. mug — a face
  8. key — for a lock
  9. bank — of a river
  10. bank — for money
  11. key — in music
  12. rock — a stone
  13. bank — for money
  14. rock — music
  15. mug — to rob
  16. tube — a container
  17. tube — the underground
  18. jam — in traffic

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