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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. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of a king
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. key — for a lock
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. charge — in control
  8. charge — a price
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. foot — a measure
  11. court — for sport
  12. press — newspapers
  13. rush — hurry
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. key — in music
  16. court — of law
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. date — the fruit
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. charge — electricity
  22. press — to push
  23. key — the most important part
  24. press — a publisher

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