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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. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. scale — size or range
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. season — in sport
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. press — newspapers
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. pit — a hole
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. press — a publisher
  13. club — for dancing
  14. scale — in music
  15. season — of the year
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. club — for golf
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. sharp — clever
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. press — to push
  23. pit — in a race
  24. hide — animal skin

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