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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: leaves · tube · chip · key · nail · lean · lash · jam

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. key — in music
  4. key — the most important part
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. chip — for betting
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. tube — the underground
  14. chip — to eat
  15. key — for a lock
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. tube — a container
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. lean — to bend
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. lean — thin
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. nail — for a hammer

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