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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: key · cap · jam · season · ground · bank · can · press

  1. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. press — newspapers
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. bank — for money
  6. key — the most important part
  7. key — in music
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. press — a publisher
  10. bank — of a river
  11. bank — for money
  12. season — of the year
  13. ground — the earth
  14. ground — a position
  15. ground — crushed
  16. cap — of ice
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. cap — a lid
  19. can — a tin
  20. press — to push
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — to be able to
  23. key — for a lock
  24. season — in sport

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