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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: chip · jam · present · wake · lie · suit · season · spring

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. chip — for betting
  4. present — the time now
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. season — of the year
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. spring — the season
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. suit — in cards
  12. wake — a trail
  13. present — there
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. spring — of water
  16. season — in sport
  17. chip — to eat
  18. present — a gift
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. suit — to fit
  21. spring — a coil
  22. suit — clothes
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. wake — before a funeral

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