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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 · fan · rock · craft · date · toast · ruler · bound

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. bound — certain
  4. craft — a skill
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. date — the fruit
  8. bound — obliged
  9. rock — music
  10. craft — boats
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. toast — bread
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. rock — a stone
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. bound — tied together
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. fan — a supporter

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