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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 116 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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  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. safe — a strongbox
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. net — after costs
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pop — soda
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. press — to push
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. press — a publisher
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. rush — hurry
  13. net — for catching
  14. press — newspapers
  15. pop — music
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. net — in sport
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. bulb — for light
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. pop — to visit
  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