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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: row · key · jam · mine · present · suit · club · roll

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. row — to paddle
  3. present — a gift
  4. mine — for digging
  5. suit — to fit
  6. present — there
  7. club — for dancing
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. roll — a list
  13. suit — in cards
  14. key — the most important part
  15. roll — a cake
  16. row — a line
  17. key — in music
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. club — a group
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. club — for golf
  23. suit — clothes
  24. key — for a lock

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