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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: jam · bowl · mug · band · roll · saw · lash · fall

  1. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. fall — to drop
  4. roll — a cake
  5. saw — the tool
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. roll — a list
  8. band — a music group
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. mug — to rob
  13. band — a ring
  14. fall — the season
  15. mug — a face
  16. mug — a cup
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. fall — to drop
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. jam — in traffic

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