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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  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. jam — a tight spot
  2. press — newspapers
  3. bank — for money
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. net — for catching
  6. wake — a trail
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. net — after costs
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. ball — a dance
  11. deal — to handle
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. bank — for money
  14. bank — of a river
  15. sharp — clever
  16. net — in sport
  17. press — a publisher
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. press — to push
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. ball — a great time
  23. ball — a round shape
  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