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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. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. chip — for betting
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. chip — to eat
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. press — newspapers
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. press — a publisher
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. deal — to handle
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. press — to push
  18. toast — bread
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. wax — to grow
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. deal — an agreement

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