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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: patient · spell · band · deal · bass · jam · cue · toast

  1. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. band — a ring
  5. cue — a hint
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. bass — the fish
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. bass — low music
  13. spell — a short time
  14. spell — magic
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. deal — to handle
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. cue — for pool
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. spell — letters
  22. toast — bread
  23. cue — a signal
  24. jam — a tight spot

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