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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: club · march · present · snap · suit · temple · jam · charge

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. present — a gift
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. present — there
  5. charge — electricity
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. club — a group
  8. charge — in control
  9. suit — clothes
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. snap — to click
  12. march — music
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. charge — a price
  15. suit — to fit
  16. march — the month
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. march — the month
  19. club — for golf
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. club — for dancing
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. suit — in cards

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