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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 don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. press — a publisher
  3. mark — a grade
  4. press — newspapers
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. press — to push
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. date — the fruit
  13. pass — a permit
  14. mark — a trace
  15. rock — music
  16. key — in music
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. key — for a lock
  21. key — the most important part
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. rock — a stone
  24. date — on the calendar

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