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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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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: mug · racket · firm · arm · jam · current · board · cabinet

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. firm — steady
  5. mug — a face
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. firm — a company
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. firm — decided
  12. board — to get on
  13. mug — a cup
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. board — a committee
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. current — happening now
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. current — of water
  21. mug — to rob
  22. current — electric
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. cabinet — ministers

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