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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: jam · face · can · date · suit · stand · bass · shower

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. shower — rain
  3. face — part of the head
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. suit — clothes
  6. can — to be able to
  7. face — to confront
  8. suit — in cards
  9. shower — to wash
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. date — the fruit
  13. can — a tin
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. can — a tin
  17. stand — to bear
  18. face — to point toward
  19. suit — to fit
  20. bass — low music
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. stand — for spectators

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