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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. fine — high quality
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. chest — a box
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. prune — to trim
  10. fine — all right
  11. press — to push
  12. chest — of your body
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. pass — a permit
  16. prune — to trim
  17. press — newspapers
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. rush — hurry
  24. chest — of your body

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