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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: band · saw · row · bowl · firm · tube · jam · leaves

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. band — a ring
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. row — to paddle
  5. tube — a container
  6. saw — the tool
  7. tube — the underground
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. saw — the tool
  10. firm — decided
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. band — a music group
  15. firm — steady
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. firm — a company
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. row — a line

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