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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: fan · jam · deal · wake · lie · rest · content · coach

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  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. jam — in traffic
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. rest — what's left
  4. content — the amount
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. rest — a break
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. rest — what's left
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. content — happy
  19. lie — to recline
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. deal — to handle
  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