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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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. press — to push
  4. dip — to sink
  5. toast — bread
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. ball — a great time
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. staff — employees
  13. press — newspapers
  14. staff — a stick
  15. board — a committee
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. ball — a dance
  18. staff — employees
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. date — the fruit
  22. board — to get on
  23. press — a publisher
  24. jam — in traffic

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