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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. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. press — a publisher
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. press — to push
  5. key — in music
  6. roll — a cake
  7. press — newspapers
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. date — the fruit
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. roll — a list
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. season — in sport
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. fine — high quality
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — for a lock
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. season — of the year

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