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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
468
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: rush · foot · jam · deal · mug · cell · cabinet · squash

  1. He was locked up in a ________________.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in a prison
  2. squash — to crush
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. mug — a face
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. mug — a cup
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. squash — the sport
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. mug — to rob
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. cell — a phone
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. rush — hurry
  17. cell — in biology
  18. deal — to handle
  19. foot — a measure
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. foot — part of the body

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