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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. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — from a university
  2. press — a publisher
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. degree — temperature
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. mug — a face
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. charge — in control
  12. charge — a price
  13. degree — an amount
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. mine — for digging
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. press — to push
  18. mug — a cup
  19. press — newspapers
  20. mug — to rob
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. charge — electricity
  24. coach — a trainer

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