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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
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: tube · firm · snap · hide · root · fine · sharp · jam

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. root — of a word
  4. snap — to click
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. fine — all right
  7. tube — a container
  8. firm — decided
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. firm — a company
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. fine — high quality
  14. tube — the underground
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. root — of a plant
  17. sharp — clever
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. root — the cause
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. firm — steady

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