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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: kid · jam · bank · stock · mug · bowl · trunk · bulb

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. 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. jam — a tight spot
  2. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. mug — a cup
  6. stock — goods
  7. bulb — for light
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. bank — of a river
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. mug — to rob
  13. kid — to tease
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bank — for money
  16. stock — shares
  17. mug — a face
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. kid — child
  23. bank — for money
  24. 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