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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  6. The water is too ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. press — newspapers
  5. cold — the Cold War
  6. cold — not warm
  7. fine — all right
  8. saw — the tool
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. press — a publisher
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. saw — the tool
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. rock — a stone
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. press — to push
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. rock — music
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. cold — an illness
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. fine — high quality
  24. rock — to move gently

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