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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: pass · band · safe · dip · bear · pitch · snap · jam

  1. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  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. snap — to snap out of it
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. band — a ring
  4. dip — to sink
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. bear — the animal
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. bear — the animal
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. band — a music group
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. pass — a permit
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. pitch — completely
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bear — to put up with
  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