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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. press — a publisher
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. date — the fruit
  6. tube — the underground
  7. ball — a dance
  8. bound — tied together
  9. bound — certain
  10. ball — a great time
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. bound — obliged
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. chip — to eat
  15. suit — to fit
  16. sharp — clever
  17. chip — for betting
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. suit — clothes
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. tube — a container
  22. press — to push
  23. press — newspapers
  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