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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: jam · firm · mouse · pop · mug · staff · tube · bank

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. pop — to visit
  4. mug — to rob
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. staff — employees
  7. staff — employees
  8. bank — of a river
  9. pop — music
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. mug — a cup
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. staff — a stick
  14. tube — the underground
  15. bank — for money
  16. pop — soda
  17. tube — a container
  18. firm — a company
  19. bank — for money
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. firm — decided
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mug — a face
  24. firm — steady

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