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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: snap · bat · rush · fan · staff · mug · press · jam

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. press — newspapers
  3. press — a publisher
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. press — to push
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. rush — hurry
  10. mug — a cup
  11. staff — employees
  12. bat — for baseball
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. mug — to rob
  15. staff — a stick
  16. bat — in an idiom
  17. staff — employees
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. bat — the animal
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. mug — a face
  24. snap — to click

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