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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. press — to push
  4. march — the month
  5. march — the month
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. press — newspapers
  11. chip — to eat
  12. march — music
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. object — an aim
  16. object — a thing
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. object — to protest
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. chip — for betting
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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