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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: plane · mug · can · drill · squash · rock · jam · snap

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. can — a tin
  3. squash — the sport
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. rock — music
  10. drill — a practice
  11. rock — a stone
  12. snap — to click
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. mug — a face
  16. can — a tin
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. drill — the tool
  19. mug — a cup
  20. squash — to crush
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. drill — army training
  23. plane — a tool
  24. can — to be able to

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