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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: drill · jam · fan · bowl · bear · suit · cell · hide

  1. He was locked up in a ________________.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in a prison
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. suit — to fit
  4. suit — in cards
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. drill — the tool
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. drill — a practice
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. bear — the animal
  16. bear — the animal
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. cell — a phone
  19. suit — clothes
  20. drill — army training
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. cell — in biology
  24. hide — animal skin

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