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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: jam · club · fan · rash · swing · suit · branch · fine

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. David sat on the ________________.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. fine — high quality
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. swing — to play on
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. fine — all right
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. rash — a series
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. swing — music
  13. swing — in golf
  14. branch — a division
  15. club — a group
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. suit — to fit
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. suit — in cards
  22. club — for dancing
  23. rash — hasty
  24. club — for golf

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