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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 120 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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. The water is too ________________.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. press — newspapers
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. rush — hurry
  8. cold — not warm
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. cold — the Cold War
  11. charge — in control
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. cold — an illness
  14. charge — a price
  15. tube — a container
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. ball — a great time
  19. press — a publisher
  20. press — to push
  21. ball — a dance
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. charge — electricity
  24. tube — the underground

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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