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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 room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. press — newspapers
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. press — to push
  6. press — a publisher
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. saw — the tool
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. spell — a short time
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. lean — thin
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. lean — to bend
  17. saw — the tool
  18. spell — magic
  19. firm — steady
  20. spell — letters
  21. hand — in cards
  22. hand — help
  23. firm — decided
  24. firm — a company

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