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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 · dip · press · mouse · arm · bulb · chair · shower

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. press — a publisher
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. shower — to wash
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. bulb — for light
  12. chair — a professorship
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. chair — a leader
  16. dip — to sink
  17. shower — rain
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. press — to push
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. bulb — for light
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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