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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: fan · roll · jam · wave · mouse · land · suit · chair

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. land — a country
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. chair — a professorship
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. land — to come down
  11. roll — a cake
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. suit — clothes
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. roll — a list
  18. chair — a leader
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. suit — to fit
  22. suit — in cards
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. land — ground

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