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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 · can · arm · bulb · cabinet · shower · stock · toast

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  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 — a tight spot
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. bulb — for light
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. shower — rain
  9. stock — goods
  10. can — to be able to
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. shower — to wash
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. toast — bread
  16. can — a tin
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. stock — shares
  20. can — a tin
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. bulb — for light
  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