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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 · saw · lash · vault · can · band · season · tube

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. tube — the underground
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. can — a tin
  9. band — a ring
  10. can — to be able to
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. band — a music group
  15. season — in sport
  16. vault — a safe
  17. saw — the tool
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. season — of the year
  22. saw — the tool
  23. tube — a container
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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