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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: deal · fan · jam · dip · press · lie · bass · saw

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. press — to push
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. press — newspapers
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. deal — to handle
  9. bass — low music
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. saw — the tool
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. bass — the fish
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lie — to recline
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. saw — the tool
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. press — a publisher

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