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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. press — to push
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. bear — the animal
  8. deal — to handle
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. pitch — completely
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. bear — the animal
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. hand — help
  19. hand — in cards
  20. press — newspapers
  21. vault — a safe
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. lash — an eyelash

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