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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.

Make a worksheet

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: kick · staff · toast · band · scale · leaves · fan · jam

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. scale — in music
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. scale — size or range
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. staff — a stick
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. band — a ring
  11. staff — employees
  12. staff — employees
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. kick — in football
  17. toast — bread
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. band — a music group
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. toast — the most admired

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