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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. press — newspapers
  5. prune — to trim
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. press — a publisher
  9. sharp — clever
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. deal — to handle
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. rush — hurry
  18. toast — bread
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. press — to push
  22. prune — to trim
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. mine — for digging

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