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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: snap · bass · hide · firm · deal · cue · mug · jam

  1. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. mug — to rob
  3. snap — to click
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. mug — a cup
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. firm — steady
  11. cue — a hint
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. bass — the fish
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. bass — low music
  16. deal — to handle
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. cue — for pool
  20. firm — decided
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. mug — a face
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. cue — a signal

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