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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 · track · mark · can · straw · cap · firm · band

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. can — to be able to
  3. firm — a company
  4. straw — dry grass
  5. mark — a trace
  6. firm — decided
  7. band — a music group
  8. track — to keep track
  9. band — a ring
  10. can — a tin
  11. track — a path
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. cap — a lid
  14. mark — a grade
  15. track — a song
  16. cap — of ice
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. straw — a straw man
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. firm — steady
  22. can — a tin
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. cap — a hat

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