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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 · ruler · bowl · fan · cap · rush · board · game

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. board — a committee
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. game — a match
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. cap — of ice
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. rush — hurry
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. game — wild animals
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. cap — a hat
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. board — to get on
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. rush — a thrill

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