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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: snap · perch · mouse · chip · pitcher · jam · sharp · racket

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. perch — the fish
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. chip — to eat
  15. sharp — clever
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. snap — to click
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. chip — for betting
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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