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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 bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  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. jam — in traffic
  2. court — of law
  3. bass — low music
  4. rock — a stone
  5. staff — employees
  6. press — to push
  7. deal — to handle
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. bass — the fish
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. staff — employees
  12. press — newspapers
  13. court — of a king
  14. staff — a stick
  15. rock — music
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. mine — for digging
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. court — for sport
  23. rock — to move gently
  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