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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: snap · current · press · plane · vault · deal · rest · jam

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. deal — to handle
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. press — a publisher
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. current — electric
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. current — of water
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. current — happening now
  13. rest — what's left
  14. snap — to click
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. plane — a tool
  17. press — newspapers
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. press — to push
  20. rest — what's left
  21. rest — a break
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. vault — a safe
  24. deal — an agreement

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