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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: snap · jam · vault · rush · pop · present · firm · can

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. firm — decided
  4. can — a tin
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. firm — a company
  9. rush — hurry
  10. present — a gift
  11. present — the time now
  12. pop — soda
  13. snap — to click
  14. pop — music
  15. vault — a safe
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. firm — steady
  19. can — to be able to
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. present — there
  23. pop — to visit
  24. can — a tin

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