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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. roll — a list
  3. pop — to visit
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. press — newspapers
  9. toast — bread
  10. press — to push
  11. board — to get on
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. board — a committee
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. bear — the animal
  18. press — a publisher
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. roll — a cake
  21. pop — soda
  22. bear — the animal
  23. sharp — clever
  24. roll — on a roll

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