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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. fine — all right
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. press — to push
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. hand — in cards
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. fine — high quality
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. pit — a hole
  20. hand — help
  21. pit — in a race
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. wax — to grow
  24. press — a publisher

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