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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: suit · march · band · can · bank · mine · mug · jam

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. mine — for digging
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. march — the month
  6. mug — to rob
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. bank — for money
  10. mug — a face
  11. band — a music group
  12. bank — for money
  13. band — a ring
  14. march — the month
  15. suit — in cards
  16. march — music
  17. bank — of a river
  18. can — to be able to
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. suit — to fit
  22. suit — clothes
  23. can — a tin
  24. can — a tin

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