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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: chip · jam · rush · trunk · key · rock · row · swing

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. rock — a stone
  4. key — in music
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. key — for a lock
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. swing — music
  11. rock — music
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. rush — hurry
  16. key — the most important part
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. chip — to eat
  19. swing — to play on
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. row — to paddle
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. row — a line
  24. chip — for betting

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