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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 · suit · content · toast · vault · leaves · hand · cap

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  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. toast — a drink to someone
  2. suit — in cards
  3. hand — in cards
  4. hand — help
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. content — the amount
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. vault — a safe
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. toast — bread
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. cap — a lid
  18. suit — clothes
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. suit — to fit
  21. cap — of ice
  22. content — happy
  23. toast — the most admired
  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