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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. bore — to drill
  5. swing — music
  6. bass — low music
  7. fine — all right
  8. bore — to tire
  9. press — to push
  10. press — newspapers
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. press — a publisher
  17. rush — hurry
  18. lie — to recline
  19. bass — the fish
  20. swing — in golf
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. pitch — completely
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. swing — to play on

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