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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. club — for golf
  4. can — a tin
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. press — newspapers
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. can — a tin
  12. chip — to eat
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. press — to push
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. club — for dancing
  18. chip — for betting
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. toast — bread
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. club — a group
  23. can — to be able to
  24. jam — a tight spot

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