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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 · mug · jam · bear · pit · bank · last · rash

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — the animal
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. snap — to click
  8. pit — in a race
  9. rash — hasty
  10. last — final
  11. mug — a cup
  12. mug — a face
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. rash — a series
  15. bank — for money
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. mug — to rob
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. last — to go on
  20. last — finally
  21. bank — of a river
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. pit — a hole
  24. bank — for money

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