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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. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. can — a tin
  6. band — a ring
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. firm — a company
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. game — a match
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. firm — decided
  14. firm — steady
  15. can — to be able to
  16. press — to push
  17. band — a music group
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. game — wild animals
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. press — a publisher
  24. can — a tin

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