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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. press — to push
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. press — newspapers
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. net — in sport
  8. bass — the fish
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. bulb — for light
  11. sharp — clever
  12. key — the most important part
  13. bass — low music
  14. press — a publisher
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. net — for catching
  17. bulb — for light
  18. key — in music
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. net — after costs
  24. chair — a leader

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