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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: stand · squash · rush · fan · vault · stem · jam · deal

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. squash — the sport
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. squash — to crush
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. vault — a safe
  17. stem — to come from
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. stand — to bear
  21. rush — hurry
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. deal — to handle
  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