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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: ball · rush · face · ruler · jam · spell · chest · bank

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. chest — a box
  3. spell — magic
  4. face — to confront
  5. chest — of your body
  6. spell — a short time
  7. ball — a great time
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. face — to point toward
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. bank — of a river
  17. bank — for money
  18. ball — a dance
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. chest — of your body
  21. face — part of the head
  22. bank — for money
  23. spell — letters
  24. rush — hurry

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