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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  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. coach — a trainer
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. press — newspapers
  6. bound — obliged
  7. press — to push
  8. pop — soda
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. pass — a permit
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. plane — a tool
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. bound — certain
  17. pop — to visit
  18. pop — music
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. bound — tied together
  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