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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. mug — a cup
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. press — a publisher
  7. bear — the animal
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. bear — the animal
  10. press — to push
  11. march — the month
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. vault — a safe
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. sharp — clever
  16. press — newspapers
  17. game — wild animals
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. march — the month
  20. mug — to rob
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. game — a match
  23. march — music
  24. mug — a face

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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