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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: jam · pass · chair · safe · season · press · row · net

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. pass — a permit
  4. chair — to sit on
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. press — newspapers
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. chair — a leader
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. row — a line
  12. season — in sport
  13. row — to paddle
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. net — after costs
  18. press — a publisher
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. net — for catching
  21. season — of the year
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. net — in sport

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