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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 had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. row — a line
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. ball — a dance
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. press — to push
  11. charge — electricity
  12. charge — a price
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. press — newspapers
  16. press — a publisher
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. tube — the underground
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. ball — a great time
  21. tube — a container
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. charge — in control
  24. racket — for tennis

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