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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: stand · can · rush · cue · jam · fine · hand · content

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. fine — high quality
  5. hand — in cards
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. cue — a signal
  8. cue — a hint
  9. rush — hurry
  10. stand — to bear
  11. can — a tin
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. can — a tin
  15. fine — all right
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. can — to be able to
  19. hand — help
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. content — the amount
  24. content — happy

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