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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. scale — in music
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. press — a publisher
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. suit — in cards
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. suit — clothes
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. scale — size or range
  14. date — the fruit
  15. suit — to fit
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. mine — for digging
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. wake — a trail
  23. press — to push
  24. date — on the calendar

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