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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: bulb · jam · mouse · spell · press · race · fine · game

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bulb — for light
  3. press — a publisher
  4. race — humankind
  5. game — a match
  6. press — to push
  7. spell — a short time
  8. game — wild animals
  9. bulb — for light
  10. spell — letters
  11. press — newspapers
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. fine — high quality
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. race — the arms race
  18. spell — magic
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. race — a contest
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. fine — all right
  24. jam — a tight spot

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