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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
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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: mate · coach · jam · snap · deal · saw · pop · squash

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  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. pop — to visit
  2. pop — music
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. pop — soda
  6. saw — the tool
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. saw — the tool
  10. squash — to crush
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. deal — to handle
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. squash — the sport
  17. mate — a friend
  18. mate — to breed
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. mate — a partner
  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