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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: suit · ball · content · temple · fan · bore · jam · mark

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. bore — to tire
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. mark — a trace
  8. suit — clothes
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. mark — a grade
  13. content — the amount
  14. suit — to fit
  15. suit — in cards
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. ball — a great time
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bore — to drill
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. content — happy
  24. ball — a dance

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