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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: mug · bulb · court · mouse · track · press · tube · pass

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bulb — for light
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. track — a path
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. mug — to rob
  10. mug — a cup
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. press — to push
  13. press — newspapers
  14. tube — the underground
  15. press — a publisher
  16. court — of a king
  17. tube — a container
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. pass — a permit
  20. court — for sport
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. court — of law
  23. track — to keep track
  24. mug — a face

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