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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. can — a tin
  4. dip — to sink
  5. deal — to handle
  6. fine — high quality
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. pop — soda
  9. fine — all right
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. press — a publisher
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. press — to push
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. kid — child
  16. pop — music
  17. mine — for digging
  18. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  19. can — to be able to
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. pop — to visit
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. press — newspapers
  24. kid — to tease

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