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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
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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: spring · charge · content · jam · vault · cue · suit · lash

  1. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. spring — a coil
  3. charge — a price
  4. spring — the season
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. charge — electricity
  7. cue — for pool
  8. suit — in cards
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. content — the amount
  12. cue — a signal
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. suit — to fit
  15. content — happy
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. vault — a safe
  18. suit — clothes
  19. charge — in control
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. cue — a hint
  24. spring — of water

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