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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 120 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: cabinet · fine · object · bulb · press · bass · hand · ball

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. bass — low music
  3. object — to protest
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. bass — the fish
  6. press — a publisher
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. object — a thing
  10. ball — a dance
  11. ball — a great time
  12. fine — high quality
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. press — newspapers
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. fine — all right
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. hand — help
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. hand — in cards
  23. bulb — for light
  24. object — an aim

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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