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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 · temple · squash · bank · bear · game · sharp · fine

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. bank — for money
  4. squash — the sport
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. bank — for money
  9. fine — all right
  10. squash — to crush
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. game — a match
  13. bear — the animal
  14. bank — of a river
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. game — wild animals
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. fine — high quality
  22. bear — the animal
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. sharp — clever

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