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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: firm · toast · cap · squash · track · mouse · jam · swing

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. David sat on the ________________.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. cap — a lid
  3. track — a song
  4. squash — the sport
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. swing — in golf
  7. swing — music
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. cap — a hat
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. firm — a company
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. cap — of ice
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. toast — bread
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. squash — to crush
  19. firm — decided
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. track — to keep track
  22. swing — to play on
  23. firm — steady
  24. squash — the vegetable

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