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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
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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: jam · mark · stand · net · charge · snap · mug · content

  1. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. net — after costs
  3. charge — in control
  4. mug — a cup
  5. content — the amount
  6. net — in sport
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. mark — a trace
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. charge — a price
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. content — happy
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. net — for catching
  17. mark — a grade
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. mug — a face
  21. charge — electricity
  22. mug — to rob
  23. stand — to bear
  24. snap — to click

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