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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. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. press — newspapers
  3. bore — to tire
  4. game — a match
  5. roll — a cake
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. key — in music
  8. press — to push
  9. pop — soda
  10. press — a publisher
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. rule — to rule out
  14. game — wild animals
  15. key — the most important part
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. roll — a list
  18. bore — to drill
  19. key — for a lock
  20. pop — music
  21. pop — to visit
  22. dip — to sink
  23. rule — government
  24. roll — on a roll

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