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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.

Make a worksheet

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: sharp · jam · suit · fan · mug · lie · ball · trunk

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. suit — to fit
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. ball — a great time
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. suit — in cards
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. mug — a face
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. lie — to recline
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. sharp — clever
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. ball — a dance
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. suit — clothes
  23. mug — to rob
  24. fan — a supporter

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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