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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: deal · nail · pass · bound · fan · jam · degree · rock

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. deal — to handle
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. bound — tied together
  7. pass — a permit
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. degree — an amount
  13. rock — a stone
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. bound — obliged
  16. degree — from a university
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. degree — temperature
  21. bound — certain
  22. rock — music
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. rock — to move gently

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