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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: firm · fine · jam · bass · can · sharp · leaves · kid

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. can — a tin
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. sharp — clever
  10. can — a tin
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. fine — all right
  14. kid — to tease
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bass — the fish
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. fine — high quality
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. kid — child
  22. firm — a company
  23. firm — decided
  24. bass — low music

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