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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.

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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. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. press — a publisher
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. rush — hurry
  7. staff — employees
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. press — newspapers
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. can — to be able to
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. staff — a stick
  14. can — a tin
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. mine — for digging
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. can — a tin
  22. press — to push
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. staff — employees

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