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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
468
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: row · jam · game · foot · chip · toast · suit · rash

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. suit — clothes
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. row — a line
  7. toast — bread
  8. rash — a series
  9. chip — for betting
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. chip — to eat
  14. game — wild animals
  15. row — to paddle
  16. suit — in cards
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. foot — a measure
  21. suit — to fit
  22. rash — hasty
  23. game — a match
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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