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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. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. cap — a lid
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. date — the fruit
  6. season — of the year
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. bore — to drill
  11. press — newspapers
  12. season — in sport
  13. cap — a hat
  14. press — a publisher
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. bore — to tire
  17. press — to push
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. cap — of ice
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. roll — a list
  24. roll — a cake

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