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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 still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a ring
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. season — of the year
  5. perch — the fish
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. chip — for betting
  8. press — newspapers
  9. press — to push
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. band — a music group
  12. charge — electricity
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. chip — to eat
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. squash — the sport
  17. season — in sport
  18. press — a publisher
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. squash — to crush
  22. charge — a price
  23. charge — in control
  24. band — a rubber band

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