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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: cabinet · jam · charge · mug · bound · present · snap · net

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. charge — in control
  3. charge — electricity
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. present — a gift
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. net — for catching
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. mug — a cup
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. present — the time now
  14. bound — tied together
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. bound — certain
  18. mug — to rob
  19. present — there
  20. bound — obliged
  21. net — after costs
  22. charge — a price
  23. snap — to click
  24. mug — a face

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