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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: snap · current · rush · jam · suit · spring · march · key

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  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 — in traffic
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. spring — the season
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. key — the most important part
  7. current — electric
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. suit — clothes
  10. march — the month
  11. snap — to click
  12. spring — a coil
  13. march — the month
  14. rush — hurry
  15. key — for a lock
  16. spring — of water
  17. march — music
  18. suit — to fit
  19. key — in music
  20. suit — in cards
  21. current — of water
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  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