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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: jam · bark · snap · pass · current · pit · wave · arm

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. current — happening now
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. current — of water
  9. bark — to shout
  10. pit — in a race
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. snap — to click
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. current — electric
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. pit — a hole
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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