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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. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for dancing
  2. press — newspapers
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. date — the fruit
  5. sharp — clever
  6. lean — thin
  7. saw — the tool
  8. club — a group
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. wind — moving air
  12. press — to push
  13. lean — to bend
  14. press — a publisher
  15. wind — to turn a key
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. club — for golf
  23. wind — moving air
  24. saw — the tool

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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