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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. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. press — a publisher
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. bank — of a river
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. roll — a list
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. press — newspapers
  13. bank — for money
  14. pit — in a race
  15. bank — for money
  16. rash — hasty
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. press — to push
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. pit — a hole
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. rash — a series
  23. roll — a cake
  24. leaves — to go away

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