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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. face — to point toward
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. saw — the tool
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. face — to confront
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. mug — to rob
  9. face — part of the head
  10. press — newspapers
  11. spell — a short time
  12. saw — the tool
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. branch — a division
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. spell — letters
  19. mug — a cup
  20. press — a publisher
  21. mug — a face
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. spell — magic
  24. leaves — of a tree

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