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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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. wake — a trail
  5. bear — the animal
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. pop — soda
  8. bear — the animal
  9. pop — to visit
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. season — of the year
  12. press — to push
  13. press — a publisher
  14. pop — music
  15. press — newspapers
  16. lean — to bend
  17. tube — a container
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. lean — thin
  22. season — in sport
  23. tube — the underground
  24. lean — to rest against

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