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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: can · deal · straw · season · ball · object · jam · chip

  1. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  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. straw — dry grass
  2. straw — a straw man
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. object — an aim
  5. chip — to eat
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. object — to protest
  8. can — a tin
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. chip — for betting
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. deal — to handle
  13. can — to be able to
  14. straw — to clutch at straws
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. ball — a great time
  17. season — in sport
  18. season — of the year
  19. can — a tin
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. ball — a dance
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. object — a thing
  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