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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 116 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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. We took cover from the thunder ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. press — to push
  3. pit — in a race
  4. press — newspapers
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. rash — hasty
  8. pit — a hole
  9. rash — a series
  10. fine — all right
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. fine — high quality
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. shower — to wash
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. cue — a hint
  18. bass — the fish
  19. press — a publisher
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. bass — low music
  22. cue — a signal
  23. cue — for pool
  24. shower — rain

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