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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: roll · bank · fall · ball · tube · craft · temple · jam

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. bank — for money
  3. bank — for money
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. roll — a cake
  6. ball — a dance
  7. bank — of a river
  8. fall — to drop
  9. tube — the underground
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. roll — a list
  15. fall — to drop
  16. fall — the season
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. ball — a great time
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. craft — boats
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. craft — a skill
  23. tube — a container
  24. ball — a round shape

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