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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: date · fine · snap · deal · rash · cell · jam · cabinet

  1. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. cell — in biology
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. rash — a series
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. deal — to handle
  7. fine — high quality
  8. date — the fruit
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. snap — to click
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. cell — a phone
  20. fine — all right
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. rash — hasty

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