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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
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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 · jam · mouse · craft · staff · bulb · mine · leaves

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. stand — to bear
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. staff — a stick
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. staff — employees
  10. craft — a skill
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bulb — for light
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. staff — employees
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. craft — boats
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. bulb — for light
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. mine — for digging
  24. mouse — the animal

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