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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 · season · mate · club · shower · saw · stock · rush

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. shower — rain
  4. season — in sport
  5. mate — to breed
  6. rush — hurry
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. season — of the year
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. club — a group
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. mate — a partner
  15. saw — the tool
  16. saw — the tool
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. stock — shares
  19. club — for golf
  20. stock — goods
  21. club — for dancing
  22. shower — to wash
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. mate — a friend

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