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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: racket · jam · stem · rule · cue · bank · charge · game

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. rule — a law
  4. bank — of a river
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. charge — in control
  8. bank — for money
  9. charge — a price
  10. game — a match
  11. bank — for money
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. cue — a signal
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. stem — to come from
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. game — wild animals
  18. cue — for pool
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. charge — electricity
  23. cue — a hint
  24. rule — government

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