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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 · mouse · foot · mark · fine · toast · rest · lash

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. fine — all right
  7. rest — what's left
  8. foot — a measure
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. mark — a grade
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. fine — high quality
  13. rest — what's left
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. toast — bread
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. mark — a trace
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. rest — a break

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