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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 116 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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. ball — a great time
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. chip — to eat
  5. ball — a dance
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. rash — a series
  8. bulb — for light
  9. press — a publisher
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. rash — hasty
  14. sharp — clever
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. chip — for betting
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. bulb — for light
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. press — to push
  24. chip — in a computer

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