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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: wake · track · content · suit · chip · cabinet · bear · jam

  1. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. suit — in cards
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. track — to keep track
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. suit — to fit
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. track — a song
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. content — videos and posts
  14. suit — clothes
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. bear — the animal
  17. track — a path
  18. chip — for betting
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. chip — to eat
  21. bear — the animal
  22. content — happy
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. wake — a trail

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