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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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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 · pop · game · trunk · bank · mark · object · can

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. pop — soda
  3. mark — a trace
  4. object — a thing
  5. bank — for money
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. mark — a grade
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. game — wild animals
  10. game — a match
  11. can — a tin
  12. pop — to visit
  13. object — an aim
  14. pop — music
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. bank — for money
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. can — to be able to
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. object — to protest
  24. bank — of a river

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