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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: toast · tube · mouse · mine · rock · craft · suit · jam

  1. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. mine — for digging
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. tube — the underground
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. suit — to fit
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. tube — a container
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. rock — a stone
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. suit — clothes
  19. toast — bread
  20. suit — in cards
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. craft — boats
  23. rock — music
  24. craft — a skill

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