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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: clip · ball · jam · stick · toast · rush · mouse · spell

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  20. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  21. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. spell — a short time
  7. ball — a dance
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. rush — hurry
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. spell — magic
  12. toast — bread
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. ball — a great time
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. clip — to cut
  20. clip — for paper
  21. clip — a video
  22. spell — letters
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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