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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.

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: bulb · press · pit · rash · bass · season · lie · key

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. key — in music
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. rash — a series
  8. pit — in a race
  9. rash — hasty
  10. season — of the year
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. press — to push
  13. bass — the fish
  14. press — a publisher
  15. lie — to recline
  16. season — in sport
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. key — for a lock
  19. key — the most important part
  20. bulb — for light
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. press — newspapers
  23. bass — low music
  24. pit — a hole

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