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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. press — a publisher
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. pop — to visit
  7. craft — boats
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. craft — a skill
  10. pop — soda
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. bore — to tire
  14. press — to push
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. toast — bread
  17. saw — the tool
  18. saw — the tool
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. press — newspapers
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. bore — to drill
  24. pop — music

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