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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: club · present · trunk · current · mark · craft · stand · jam

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. stand — to bear
  3. club — for golf
  4. mark — a grade
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. present — the time now
  7. craft — boats
  8. present — there
  9. present — a gift
  10. club — a group
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. current — happening now
  13. mark — a trace
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. current — electric
  21. craft — a skill
  22. current — of water
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. club — for dancing

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