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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. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. press — newspapers
  3. pop — to visit
  4. firm — steady
  5. pop — soda
  6. pop — music
  7. firm — a company
  8. press — to push
  9. firm — decided
  10. band — a music group
  11. scale — in music
  12. band — a ring
  13. pass — a permit
  14. ball — a great time
  15. scale — size or range
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. ball — a dance
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. mate — a partner
  20. press — a publisher
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. mate — to breed
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. mate — a friend

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