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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: can · bear · suit · jam · key · land · deal · scale

  1. When are we going to ________________?
  2. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. land — a country
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. deal — to handle
  7. key — the most important part
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. suit — to fit
  10. scale — size or range
  11. suit — clothes
  12. can — a tin
  13. bear — the animal
  14. scale — in music
  15. land — ground
  16. key — for a lock
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. suit — in cards
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. can — a tin
  21. bear — the animal
  22. can — to be able to
  23. key — in music
  24. deal — an agreement

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