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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: roll · bass · mug · trunk · pit · toast · court · jam

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. court — of a king
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. mug — a cup
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. mug — to rob
  13. roll — a cake
  14. court — of law
  15. court — for sport
  16. bass — low music
  17. roll — a list
  18. pit — a hole
  19. bass — the fish
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. mug — a face
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. toast — bread
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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