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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. roll — a cake
  3. last — to go on
  4. press — newspapers
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. last — final
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. last — finally
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. lean — thin
  16. swing — to play on
  17. swing — in golf
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. roll — a list
  20. press — a publisher
  21. lean — to bend
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. press — to push
  24. mouse — the animal

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