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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: bass · calf · rush · hide · lean · jam · court · cue

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. rush — hurry
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. cue — for pool
  8. bass — low music
  9. court — of a king
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. lean — thin
  14. bass — the fish
  15. lean — to bend
  16. court — for sport
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. cue — a hint
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. court — of law
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. cue — a signal

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