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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. press — a publisher
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. press — newspapers
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. court — of a king
  8. bulb — for light
  9. chip — to eat
  10. toast — bread
  11. mate — a partner
  12. mate — to breed
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. press — to push
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. chip — for betting
  19. wax — to grow
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. court — of law
  22. court — for sport
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. bulb — for light

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