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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: jam · toast · charge · ball · rush · club · stand · fan

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. stand — to bear
  4. charge — electricity
  5. club — for golf
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. club — a group
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. toast — bread
  11. club — for dancing
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. charge — in control
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. ball — a dance
  22. charge — a price
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. ball — a great time

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