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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 116 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: mug · tube · safe · game · dip · press · pass · swing

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. David sat on the ________________.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. mug — a cup
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. game — a match
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. swing — music
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. mug — a face
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. press — to push
  12. game — wild animals
  13. press — newspapers
  14. tube — a container
  15. dip — to sink
  16. mug — to rob
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. press — a publisher
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. pass — a permit
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. swing — to play on
  23. swing — in golf
  24. tube — the underground

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