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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. track — a song
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. track — to keep track
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. track — a path
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. press — a publisher
  15. press — newspapers
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. plane — a tool
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. press — to push
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. game — wild animals
  24. game — a match

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