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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 had a ________________ with my boss today.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. row — a quarrel
  2. rest — a break
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. row — to paddle
  6. pass — a permit
  7. press — newspapers
  8. press — a publisher
  9. rest — what's left
  10. last — to go on
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. rest — what's left
  13. march — music
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. row — a line
  16. march — the month
  17. last — final
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. last — finally
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. lie — to recline
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. march — the month
  24. press — to push

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