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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. press — a publisher
  3. fork — in a road
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. fine — high quality
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. rule — a law
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. mine — for digging
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. press — to push
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. rule — government
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. fine — all right
  23. press — newspapers
  24. rule — to rule out

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