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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: cell · jam · tube · squash · bear · march · cue · toast

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. He was locked up in a ________________.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. cue — for pool
  3. tube — a container
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. bear — the animal
  6. cell — in biology
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. cell — a phone
  10. squash — the sport
  11. bear — the animal
  12. cue — a signal
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. march — the month
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. cell — in a prison
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. cue — a hint
  19. squash — to crush
  20. march — music
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. march — the month
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. tube — the underground

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