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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: ball · bank · key · ground · jam · mouse · present · can

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  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. present — the time now
  2. ground — the earth
  3. can — a tin
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. ground — a position
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — to be able to
  8. bank — of a river
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. bank — for money
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. ground — crushed
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. ball — a great time
  16. key — for a lock
  17. key — the most important part
  18. bank — for money
  19. present — a gift
  20. ball — a dance
  21. present — there
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. key — in music
  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