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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: band · fine · jam · root · rash · firm · present · saw

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. fine — high quality
  4. root — the cause
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. saw — the tool
  7. root — of a plant
  8. firm — decided
  9. firm — a company
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. rash — a series
  12. root — of a word
  13. saw — the tool
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. present — there
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. band — a music group
  18. fine — all right
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. firm — steady
  21. band — a ring
  22. present — a gift
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. rash — hasty

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