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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: racket · roll · fine · jam · mug · stand · tear · chip

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. tear — to rip
  3. roll — a cake
  4. tear — from crying
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. chip — to eat
  8. mug — a face
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. roll — a list
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. fine — all right
  15. tear — from crying
  16. chip — for betting
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. fine — high quality
  19. stand — to bear
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. mug — to rob
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. fine — a penalty

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