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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: dip · jam · sharp · rush · craft · lie · press · key

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. press — to push
  5. rush — hurry
  6. key — for a lock
  7. craft — a skill
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. press — a publisher
  10. craft — boats
  11. lie — to recline
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. press — newspapers
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. key — in music
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. sharp — clever
  21. dip — to sink
  22. key — the most important part
  23. dip — a sauce
  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