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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: stand · cabinet · jam · safe · cell · snap · mouse · pass

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  13. He was locked up in a ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. cell — a phone
  13. cell — in a prison
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. stand — to bear
  18. pass — a permit
  19. cell — in biology
  20. snap — to click
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. safe — out of danger

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