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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
468
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: tube · lash · toast · fine · rest · track · staff · jam

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. rest — what's left
  5. track — a path
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. rest — what's left
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. tube — a container
  10. track — a song
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. rest — a break
  13. toast — bread
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. fine — all right
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. staff — a stick
  18. tube — the underground
  19. fine — high quality
  20. staff — employees
  21. track — to keep track
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. staff — employees
  24. toast — the most admired

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