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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. press — newspapers
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. can — a tin
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. sharp — clever
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. branch — a division
  16. can — a tin
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. game — a match
  19. date — the fruit
  20. can — to be able to
  21. press — a publisher
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. game — wild animals
  24. press — to push

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