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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: sharp · mug · key · swing · mouse · press · cue · jam

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. cue — a hint
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. mug — a face
  6. sharp — clever
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. mug — to rob
  9. cue — a signal
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. swing — to play on
  12. key — in music
  13. swing — music
  14. key — the most important part
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. press — newspapers
  18. press — to push
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. mug — a cup
  22. cue — for pool
  23. press — a publisher
  24. swing — in golf

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