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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: jam · face · lean · fan · calf · season · drill · suit

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. drill — a practice
  3. season — in sport
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. suit — in cards
  7. face — part of the head
  8. drill — the tool
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. suit — to fit
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. face — to point toward
  14. season — of the year
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. lean — thin
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. face — to confront
  20. lean — to bend
  21. drill — army training
  22. suit — clothes
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  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