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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 120 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 am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. press — newspapers
  3. rush — hurry
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. fine — high quality
  6. bass — the fish
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. bass — low music
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. fine — all right
  14. press — to push
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. sharp — clever
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. season — in sport
  21. season — of the year
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. press — a publisher
  24. rush — a thrill

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