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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 got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. fine — high quality
  4. bulb — for light
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. game — wild animals
  8. game — a match
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. suit — clothes
  13. sharp — clever
  14. press — a publisher
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. press — to push
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. press — newspapers
  20. fine — all right
  21. suit — to fit
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. bulb — for light
  24. suit — in cards

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