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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. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. press — a publisher
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. ground — crushed
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. press — newspapers
  10. pass — a permit
  11. saw — the tool
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. ground — a position
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. ground — the earth
  18. saw — the tool
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. rush — hurry
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. vault — a safe

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