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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. press — to push
  5. press — a publisher
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. ball — a great time
  12. spell — letters
  13. press — newspapers
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. ball — a dance
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. spell — magic
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. band — a ring
  24. band — a music group

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