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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. drill — a practice
  4. key — in music
  5. press — to push
  6. saw — the tool
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. can — to be able to
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. drill — the tool
  11. can — a tin
  12. saw — the tool
  13. key — the most important part
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. drill — army training
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. can — a tin
  18. press — newspapers
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. key — for a lock
  21. sharp — clever
  22. press — a publisher
  23. pass — a permit
  24. sharp — with an edge

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