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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: dip · snap · bound · jam · nail · pop · leaves · date

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. dip — to sink
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. bound — certain
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. pop — music
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. snap — to click
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. date — the fruit
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. bound — tied together
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. pop — soda
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. pop — to visit

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