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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 · mate · firm · current · chip · can · mine · leaves

  1. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. can — a tin
  4. current — of water
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. chip — to eat
  7. current — electric
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — to be able to
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. chip — for betting
  13. mate — a partner
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. mate — a friend
  17. mine — for digging
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. firm — decided
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. current — happening now
  23. firm — steady
  24. mate — to breed

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