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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
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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: jam · face · track · press · stick · object · deal · bulb

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. object — a thing
  4. face — to point toward
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. deal — to handle
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. track — a path
  10. face — part of the head
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. object — an aim
  13. bulb — for light
  14. face — to confront
  15. press — to push
  16. track — to keep track
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. press — newspapers
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. press — a publisher
  22. object — to protest
  23. bulb — for light
  24. deal — a big deal

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