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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: hand · stick · key · bank · jam · nail · wind · mug

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  20. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. hand — in cards
  4. bank — of a river
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. bank — for money
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. wind — moving air
  10. key — in music
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. hand — help
  13. mug — a face
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. bank — for money
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. mug — a cup
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. wind — moving air
  20. wind — to turn a key
  21. mug — to rob
  22. key — for a lock
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. key — the most important part

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