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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. stand — to bear
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. press — to push
  8. roll — a list
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. can — a tin
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. can — to be able to
  15. wake — a trail
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. can — a tin
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. roll — a cake
  20. mine — for digging
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. press — a publisher
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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