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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. tube — a container
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. game — a match
  5. pop — to visit
  6. tube — the underground
  7. press — newspapers
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. press — to push
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. lean — thin
  15. game — wild animals
  16. mug — a face
  17. press — a publisher
  18. mug — to rob
  19. mug — a cup
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. lean — to bend
  22. pop — soda
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. perch — the fish

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