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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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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 · bound · bay · field · mark · object · snap · stick

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  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. jam — in traffic
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. field — for sport
  5. mark — a grade
  6. mark — a trace
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. bound — tied together
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. field — a subject
  14. object — a thing
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. object — to protest
  17. bound — obliged
  18. bound — certain
  19. field — farmland
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. object — an aim
  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