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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: cue · pop · suit · object · bank · jam · perch · saw

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. suit — clothes
  4. saw — the tool
  5. object — an aim
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. suit — to fit
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. bank — of a river
  11. saw — the tool
  12. cue — a hint
  13. pop — soda
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. bank — for money
  16. cue — a signal
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. object — to protest
  19. suit — in cards
  20. object — a thing
  21. perch — the fish
  22. cue — for pool
  23. pop — music
  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