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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: calf · net · leaves · can · content · fine · spring · jam

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. content — the amount
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. spring — of water
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. fine — high quality
  9. net — after costs
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. can — a tin
  13. spring — the season
  14. content — happy
  15. can — to be able to
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. can — a tin
  18. net — in sport
  19. net — for catching
  20. fine — all right
  21. spring — a coil
  22. content — videos and posts
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. leaves — of a tree

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