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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: jam · ground · face · racket · rock · bat · nail · can

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. rock — a stone
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. can — a tin
  5. bat — the animal
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. face — to point toward
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. ground — the earth
  10. ground — a position
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. face — to confront
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. ground — crushed
  15. face — part of the head
  16. rock — music
  17. bat — for baseball
  18. can — to be able to
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. can — a tin
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. bat — in an idiom
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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