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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
468
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: nail · jam · lean · snap · mouse · key · fan · wake

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. key — the most important part
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. lean — to bend
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. snap — to click
  18. lean — thin
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. wake — a trail
  22. key — in music
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. key — for a lock

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