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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: date · object · jam · cue · hide · fan · bore · present

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. object — an aim
  5. object — a thing
  6. present — a gift
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. present — there
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. date — the fruit
  13. present — the time now
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. object — to protest
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. bore — to drill
  18. cue — for pool
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. bore — to tire
  22. cue — a signal
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. cue — a hint

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