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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. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. press — newspapers
  4. rest — what's left
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. pass — a permit
  7. net — in sport
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. rest — a break
  12. press — a publisher
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. toast — bread
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. rest — what's left
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. fork — in a road
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. press — to push
  24. net — for catching

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