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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 · toast · bank · hand · rush · net · stand · board

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. board — to get on
  4. stand — to bear
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. board — a committee
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. net — for catching
  9. bank — for money
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. net — in sport
  13. toast — bread
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. net — after costs
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. bank — for money
  19. rush — hurry
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. bank — of a river
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. hand — help
  24. hand — in cards

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