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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · jam · mug · squash · race · chip · rush · charge

  1. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. race — humankind
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. squash — to crush
  4. charge — electricity
  5. rush — hurry
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. snap — to click
  9. mug — to rob
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. squash — the sport
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. mug — a face
  14. chip — for betting
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. chip — to eat
  17. race — a contest
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. charge — a price
  20. mug — a cup
  21. race — the arms race
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. charge — in control
  24. squash — the vegetable

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