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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
468
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: jam · racket · press · rock · temple · can · cell · spring

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. He was locked up in a ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. press — newspapers
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. press — a publisher
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. can — a tin
  8. spring — a coil
  9. spring — of water
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. can — a tin
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. cell — in a prison
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. rock — music
  17. spring — the season
  18. rock — a stone
  19. cell — a phone
  20. press — to push
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. cell — in biology
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. racket — for tennis

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