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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: jam · stand · bear · rush · key · mate · mouse · cap

  1. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. key — the most important part
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mate — a partner
  8. mate — a friend
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. mate — to breed
  11. cap — a hat
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. key — for a lock
  14. key — in music
  15. cap — of ice
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. rush — hurry
  20. cap — a lid
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. bear — the animal
  24. jam — a tight spot

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