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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: leaves · chip · jam · pitch · bear · rush · press · dip

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. press — to push
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. rush — hurry
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. bear — the animal
  9. press — a publisher
  10. dip — to sink
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. bear — the animal
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. chip — for betting
  17. chip — to eat
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. pitch — completely
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. press — newspapers
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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