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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: mug · season · rash · jam · craft · roll · fine · toast

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  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. roll — a cake
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. fine — all right
  7. mug — a cup
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. roll — a list
  11. fine — high quality
  12. season — of the year
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. craft — boats
  15. toast — bread
  16. season — in sport
  17. mug — a face
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. rash — a series
  20. craft — a skill
  21. rash — hasty
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. mug — to rob
  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