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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: wake · can · jam · deal · season · mug · hide · key

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. can — a tin
  3. key — the most important part
  4. mug — a cup
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. can — to be able to
  7. season — in sport
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. season — of the year
  10. can — a tin
  11. key — for a lock
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. mug — a face
  14. key — in music
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. mug — to rob
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. deal — to handle
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. wake — a trail

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