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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. date — the fruit
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. wax — to grow
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. press — a publisher
  11. press — to push
  12. season — in sport
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. scale — in music
  15. season — of the year
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. scale — size or range
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. press — newspapers
  24. safe — a strongbox

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