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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: jam · temple · file · date · dip · board · bank · can

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. date — the fruit
  3. file — a line of people
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. board — to get on
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. file — a document
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. dip — to sink
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. can — a tin
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. can — to be able to
  17. file — a tool
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. board — a committee
  20. can — a tin
  21. bank — for money
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. bank — for money
  24. bank — of a river

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