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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.

Make a worksheet

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: jam · spring · fork · pitcher · toast · spell · drill · chair

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. spell — a short time
  4. spring — a coil
  5. toast — bread
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. drill — the tool
  8. spring — the season
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. spell — letters
  11. chair — to sit on
  12. fork — in a road
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. chair — a leader
  16. chair — a professorship
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. drill — army training
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. spring — of water
  24. spell — magic

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