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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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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. wound — an injury
  3. saw — the tool
  4. wound — an injury
  5. press — newspapers
  6. press — a publisher
  7. can — to be able to
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. key — the most important part
  12. key — for a lock
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. kick — in football
  15. kick — a thrill
  16. can — a tin
  17. rest — a break
  18. saw — the tool
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. rest — what's left
  21. stand — to bear
  22. can — a tin
  23. press — to push
  24. rest — what's left

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