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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: toast · jam · rock · cabinet · lean · can · firm · tear

  1. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  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. tear — from crying
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. tear — from crying
  4. firm — decided
  5. tear — to rip
  6. can — a tin
  7. lean — thin
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. rock — a stone
  10. lean — to bend
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. firm — steady
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. firm — a company
  15. rock — music
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. toast — bread
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. can — a tin
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. can — to be able to
  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