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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: firm · cabinet · roll · kick · can · bass · jam · fork

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. can — a tin
  3. firm — a company
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. firm — decided
  6. kick — a thrill
  7. can — a tin
  8. firm — steady
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. kick — in football
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. can — to be able to
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. roll — a cake
  15. bass — the fish
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. fork — in a road
  18. kick — with a leg
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. bass — low music

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