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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: racket · staff · patient · can · jam · snap · rush · pop

  1. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. pop — music
  6. staff — a stick
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — to be able to
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. rush — hurry
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. staff — employees
  18. staff — employees
  19. pop — to visit
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. can — a tin
  23. snap — to click
  24. pop — soda

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