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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.

Make a worksheet

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: cue · temple · snap · game · jam · safe · pop · fan

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. game — a match
  4. cue — a signal
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. game — wild animals
  9. cue — for pool
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pop — soda
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. pop — to visit
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. pop — music
  22. snap — to click
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. fan — to cool the air

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