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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: press · pass · hand · mine · deal · jam · firm · staff

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. hand — in cards
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. staff — a stick
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. staff — employees
  10. firm — steady
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. staff — employees
  13. pass — a permit
  14. hand — help
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. press — a publisher
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. deal — to handle
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. press — to push
  22. firm — a company
  23. mine — for digging
  24. firm — decided

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