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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: jam · rest · cabinet · vault · mark · spell · fine · chip

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. rest — what's left
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. rest — a break
  6. spell — magic
  7. fine — all right
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. rest — what's left
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. spell — letters
  13. mark — a trace
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. vault — a safe
  17. chip — to eat
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. spell — a short time
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. chip — for betting
  24. mark — a grade

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