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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 tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. can — a tin
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. tube — the underground
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. rock — a stone
  8. press — to push
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. rock — music
  12. press — newspapers
  13. net — in sport
  14. can — a tin
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. net — for catching
  17. tube — a container
  18. can — to be able to
  19. charge — in control
  20. net — after costs
  21. charge — electricity
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. deal — to handle
  24. press — a publisher

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