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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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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: dip · cabinet · press · date · calf · march · deal · kick

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. dip — to sink
  3. kick — in football
  4. march — the month
  5. date — the fruit
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. march — the month
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. press — a publisher
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. press — to push
  16. deal — to handle
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. kick — with a leg
  21. press — newspapers
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. march — music
  24. dip — a sauce

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