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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: chip · mate · press · pass · jam · pound · bulb · bay

  1. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — for dogs
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. chip — to eat
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. press — newspapers
  7. chip — for betting
  8. pound — a weight
  9. pass — a permit
  10. mate — to breed
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. mate — a friend
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. press — a publisher
  18. pound — to hit hard
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. press — to push
  22. mate — a partner
  23. bulb — for light
  24. chip — in a computer

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