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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: tube · face · content · jam · stand · pound · rash · staff

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. rash — a series
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. content — happy
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. staff — a stick
  7. stand — to bear
  8. tube — the underground
  9. face — to confront
  10. rash — hasty
  11. pound — to hit hard
  12. staff — employees
  13. pound — a weight
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. face — to point toward
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. content — the amount
  20. face — part of the head
  21. tube — a container
  22. staff — employees
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. jam — a tight spot

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