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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 · cue · fine · jam · safe · band · firm · roll

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. cue — a hint
  3. cue — for pool
  4. cue — a signal
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. band — a music group
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. fine — high quality
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. firm — steady
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. firm — a company
  14. band — a ring
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. fine — all right
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. roll — a cake
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. firm — decided
  21. roll — a list
  22. ball — a dance
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. band — a rubber band

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