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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 · craft · row · bay · squash · deal · bass · mate

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. craft — a skill
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. row — to paddle
  6. squash — the sport
  7. mate — to breed
  8. squash — to crush
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. deal — to handle
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. bass — the fish
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. craft — boats
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. bass — low music
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. mate — a partner
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. mate — a friend
  23. row — a line
  24. bass — the instrument

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