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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: plane · bank · mug · leaves · kid · current · suit · jam

  1. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. suit — in cards
  3. mug — a cup
  4. bank — for money
  5. current — of water
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. suit — clothes
  8. current — electric
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. kid — child
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. bank — of a river
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. plane — a tool
  15. suit — to fit
  16. mug — a face
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  19. mug — to rob
  20. kid — to tease
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. bank — for money
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. current — happening now

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