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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: bank · squash · chip · deal · jam · date · saw · pass

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. squash — the sport
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. squash — to crush
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. saw — the tool
  9. date — the fruit
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. bank — of a river
  13. chip — for betting
  14. bank — for money
  15. chip — to eat
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. pass — a permit
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. saw — the tool
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. bank — for money

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