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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 · root · bay · ruler · rush · jam · dip · squash

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. snap — to click
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. squash — to crush
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. dip — to sink
  18. root — of a plant
  19. rush — hurry
  20. squash — the sport
  21. root — the cause
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. root — of a word

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