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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. bulb — for light
  4. tube — the underground
  5. press — to push
  6. press — a publisher
  7. mug — a cup
  8. scale — in music
  9. deal — to handle
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. bass — the fish
  13. tube — a container
  14. mug — a face
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. scale — size or range
  17. lie — to recline
  18. press — newspapers
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. mug — to rob
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. bass — low music
  24. bulb — for light

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