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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. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  3. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. march — the month
  3. content — happy
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. press — newspapers
  6. content — the amount
  7. season — of the year
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. march — music
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. press — to push
  14. tube — a container
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. season — in sport
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. march — the month
  22. press — a publisher
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rush — hurry

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