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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: jam · staff · can · pit · perch · net · object · key

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. pit — a hole
  4. object — an aim
  5. key — for a lock
  6. can — a tin
  7. net — after costs
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. can — a tin
  10. staff — employees
  11. net — in sport
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. staff — a stick
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. perch — the fish
  17. pit — in a race
  18. key — the most important part
  19. object — to protest
  20. can — to be able to
  21. key — in music
  22. object — a thing
  23. staff — employees
  24. jam — in traffic

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