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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: bass · jam · leaves · cue · bore · mate · bowl · arm

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. mate — a partner
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. bore — to tire
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. bore — to drill
  12. bass — low music
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. mate — a friend
  16. cue — a hint
  17. bass — the fish
  18. cue — for pool
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. mate — to breed
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. cue — a signal

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