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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. press — newspapers
  6. press — to push
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. firm — steady
  9. ball — a great time
  10. date — the fruit
  11. can — a tin
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. ball — a dance
  15. firm — decided
  16. press — a publisher
  17. charge — electricity
  18. can — a tin
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. bass — the fish
  21. firm — a company
  22. charge — in control
  23. bass — low music
  24. can — to be able to

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