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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 will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. cap — a lid
  4. march — the month
  5. root — the cause
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. march — music
  11. press — to push
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. root — of a plant
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. press — a publisher
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. press — newspapers
  21. root — of a word
  22. cap — of ice
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. cap — a hat

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