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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. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. press — newspapers
  3. mark — a grade
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. pitch — completely
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. press — a publisher
  8. fine — high quality
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. bank — for money
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. bank — of a river
  13. rule — government
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. press — to push
  16. ball — a dance
  17. rule — a law
  18. date — the fruit
  19. rule — to rule out
  20. mark — a trace
  21. fine — all right
  22. ball — a great time
  23. bank — for money
  24. pitch — a sports field

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