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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. There's no middle ________________.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. ground — the earth
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. key — for a lock
  5. last — final
  6. press — newspapers
  7. key — in music
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. last — finally
  10. bulb — for light
  11. press — to push
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. fine — all right
  16. bulb — for light
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. fine — high quality
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. ground — crushed
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. key — the most important part
  23. press — a publisher
  24. last — to go on

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