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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 · can · leaves · kick · object · court · rest · chip

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. rest — a break
  3. rest — what's left
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. kick — in football
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. can — a tin
  8. court — of law
  9. court — of a king
  10. chip — for betting
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. rest — what's left
  13. chip — to eat
  14. court — for sport
  15. object — a thing
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. can — a tin
  18. object — to protest
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. object — an aim
  24. can — to be able to

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