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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 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 · straw · bay · bowl · press · wake

  1. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  18. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — a straw man
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. press — a publisher
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. straw — to clutch at straws
  7. press — to push
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. press — newspapers
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. chair — a leader
  18. chair — a professorship
  19. wake — a trail
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. pass — a permit

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