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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'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. press — newspapers
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. press — to push
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. press — a publisher
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. squash — to crush
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. net — for catching
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. net — after costs
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. date — the fruit
  22. net — in sport
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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