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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: swing · cue · cap · chip · deal · rush · jam · bound

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. David sat on the ________________.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. bound — tied together
  3. swing — music
  4. swing — to play on
  5. cap — of ice
  6. cap — a hat
  7. chip — for betting
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. bound — certain
  10. cap — a lid
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. bound — obliged
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. swing — in golf
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. cue — a hint
  18. rush — hurry
  19. deal — to handle
  20. cue — a signal
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. cue — for pool
  24. chip — to eat

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