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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 function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. mark — a trace
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. pop — to visit
  5. track — a path
  6. field — for sport
  7. track — to keep track
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. pop — music
  10. pitch — completely
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. pop — soda
  13. field — farmland
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. press — to push
  17. field — a subject
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. press — a publisher
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. mark — a grade
  24. track — a song

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