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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: season · lean · firm · scale · nail · jam · rash · pass

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  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 — in traffic
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. scale — size or range
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. scale — in music
  9. rash — hasty
  10. firm — decided
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. season — of the year
  13. firm — steady
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. lean — thin
  17. firm — a company
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. season — in sport
  20. lean — to bend
  21. pass — a permit
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. rash — a series
  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