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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. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of a king
  2. press — newspapers
  3. court — of law
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. pop — soda
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. pop — music
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. march — music
  11. press — a publisher
  12. press — to push
  13. march — the month
  14. march — the month
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. track — a path
  18. pop — to visit
  19. lie — to recline
  20. track — a song
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. track — to keep track
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. court — for sport

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