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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. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  12. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. press — newspapers
  3. key — for a lock
  4. mark — a trace
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. key — the most important part
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. press — to push
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. race — a contest
  12. race — humankind
  13. can — to be able to
  14. can — a tin
  15. prune — to trim
  16. mark — a grade
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. can — a tin
  20. bear — the animal
  21. key — in music
  22. press — a publisher
  23. bear — the animal
  24. prune — to trim

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