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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. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. press — newspapers
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. key — in music
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. key — for a lock
  7. key — the most important part
  8. clip — for paper
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. clip — to cut
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. press — a publisher
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. season — of the year
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. press — to push
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. spell — letters
  22. spell — a short time
  23. season — in sport
  24. clip — a video

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