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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. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. rash — hasty
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. press — newspapers
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. fine — all right
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. tube — a container
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. bound — tied together
  13. bound — certain
  14. season — in sport
  15. season — of the year
  16. press — a publisher
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. bound — obliged
  20. fine — high quality
  21. press — to push
  22. squash — to crush
  23. squash — the sport
  24. rash — a series

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