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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. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  8. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. pass — a permit
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  8. kid — to tease
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. tube — the underground
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. press — to push
  15. press — a publisher
  16. dip — to sink
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. kid — child
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. tube — a container
  21. deal — to handle
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. press — newspapers

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