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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: bore · sharp · squash · jam · wave · staff · dip · fine

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. staff — a stick
  6. sharp — clever
  7. staff — employees
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. squash — the sport
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. dip — to sink
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. fine — all right
  17. bore — to tire
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. bore — to drill
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. staff — employees
  24. fine — high quality

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