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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: mouse · jam · game · bear · mark · roll · fine · lash

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. mark — a trace
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. game — wild animals
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. bear — the animal
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. roll — a list
  14. roll — a cake
  15. fine — high quality
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. mark — a grade
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. bear — the animal
  20. fine — all right
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. game — a match
  24. roll — on a roll

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