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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 · firm · safe · jam · track · present · ruler · rush

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  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. track — to keep track
  2. present — the time now
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. firm — decided
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. present — a gift
  8. present — there
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. rush — hurry
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. track — a path
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. track — a song
  22. snap — to click
  23. firm — a company
  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