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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. bulb — for light
  3. press — newspapers
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. hand — in cards
  6. drill — army training
  7. bass — the fish
  8. hand — help
  9. rock — music
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. can — a tin
  13. drill — a practice
  14. press — to push
  15. can — a tin
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. press — a publisher
  22. bass — low music
  23. can — to be able to
  24. drill — the tool

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