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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: bore · bulb · pass · jam · roll · scale · ruler · press

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. press — to push
  6. roll — a list
  7. pass — a permit
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. bore — to drill
  15. scale — size or range
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. press — newspapers
  20. bulb — for light
  21. scale — in music
  22. roll — a cake
  23. bore — to tire
  24. bulb — for light

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