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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: jam · mate · fan · tube · content · fine · lash · ball

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. mate — to breed
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. ball — a great time
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. content — the amount
  12. tube — a container
  13. mate — a partner
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. mate — a friend
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. fine — high quality
  19. tube — the underground
  20. content — happy
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. ball — a dance
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. fine — all right

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