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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: jam · snap · arm · wax · coach · racket · charge · firm

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. charge — electricity
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. wax — to grow
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. charge — in control
  10. firm — a company
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. firm — steady
  14. snap — to click
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. charge — a price
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. firm — decided
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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