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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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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: land · cue · jam · board · deal · suit · toast · stick

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. deal — to handle
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. board — to get on
  7. suit — to fit
  8. cue — a signal
  9. land — a country
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. suit — clothes
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. board — a committee
  15. land — to come down
  16. toast — bread
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. cue — a hint
  19. cue — for pool
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. suit — in cards
  23. land — ground
  24. toast — the most admired

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