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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: rash · jam · cue · wound · fan · lie · plane · season

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. season — in sport
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. rash — a series
  12. wound — an injury
  13. rash — hasty
  14. season — of the year
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. cue — a signal
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. plane — a tool
  20. cue — a hint
  21. lie — to recline
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. wound — an injury

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