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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: tear · season · jam · fan · stick · ball · can · ruler

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. can — a tin
  3. season — in sport
  4. can — a tin
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. season — of the year
  7. tear — from crying
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. tear — to rip
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. ball — a dance
  18. ball — a great time
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. can — to be able to
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. tear — from crying

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