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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. press — a publisher
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. drill — army training
  10. mate — a partner
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. mate — a friend
  14. drill — a practice
  15. press — newspapers
  16. rest — a break
  17. rest — what's left
  18. drill — the tool
  19. mate — to breed
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. press — to push
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  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