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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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  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. ball — a round shape
  2. press — newspapers
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. bass — the fish
  5. cap — a lid
  6. ball — a dance
  7. rash — hasty
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. bass — low music
  12. press — to push
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. press — a publisher
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. sharp — clever
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. toast — bread
  19. rash — a series
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. ball — a great time
  22. cap — of ice
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  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