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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: band · dip · jam · game · can · fork · key · suit

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. game — a match
  3. dip — to sink
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. suit — to fit
  6. band — a ring
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. can — a tin
  9. suit — in cards
  10. can — a tin
  11. band — a music group
  12. game — wild animals
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. key — the most important part
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. fork — in a road
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. key — for a lock
  21. can — to be able to
  22. suit — clothes
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. jam — a tight spot

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