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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: mark · stick · jam · game · nail · ball · face · rush

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. game — wild animals
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. game — a match
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. mark — a grade
  8. face — to point toward
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. face — part of the head
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. face — to confront
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. mark — a trace
  23. ball — a great time
  24. rush — hurry

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