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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: scale · tear · jam · press · pit · rush · shower · dip

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. shower — rain
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. press — newspapers
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. press — to push
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. pit — in a race
  12. dip — to sink
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. scale — in music
  15. pit — a hole
  16. tear — to rip
  17. press — a publisher
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. tear — from crying
  21. shower — to wash
  22. tear — from crying
  23. rush — hurry
  24. scale — size or range

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