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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: roll · jam · suit · spring · craft · current · court · pass

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. court — of a king
  5. suit — in cards
  6. spring — the season
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. pass — a permit
  9. roll — a cake
  10. spring — of water
  11. court — for sport
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. current — electric
  14. roll — a list
  15. court — of law
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. craft — a skill
  19. suit — to fit
  20. current — of water
  21. craft — boats
  22. current — happening now
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. spring — a coil

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