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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: bass · jam · mug · cabinet · vault · board · mark · track

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. bass — low music
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. board — a committee
  7. mug — to rob
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. board — to get on
  11. mug — a cup
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. track — to keep track
  14. mug — a face
  15. bass — the fish
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. track — a path
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. mark — a trace
  21. vault — a safe
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. track — a song

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