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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: snap · can · rash · jam · track · toast · mouse · last

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. snap — to click
  3. can — a tin
  4. last — final
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. can — to be able to
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. can — a tin
  10. track — to keep track
  11. last — finally
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. last — to go on
  17. track — a path
  18. toast — bread
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. rash — hasty
  21. track — a song
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. rash — a series
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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