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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. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. roll — a list
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. march — the month
  5. press — a publisher
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — a tin
  8. present — a gift
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. can — to be able to
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. press — newspapers
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. march — music
  16. sharp — clever
  17. roll — a cake
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. press — to push
  22. present — the time now
  23. present — there
  24. pass — a permit

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