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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: lash · bank · snap · suit · jam · rush · last · date

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. bank — for money
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. suit — in cards
  5. rush — hurry
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. last — final
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. suit — to fit
  12. date — the fruit
  13. bank — for money
  14. bank — of a river
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. snap — to click
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. suit — clothes
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. last — to go on
  23. last — finally
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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