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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. can — a tin
  3. last — final
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. press — a publisher
  7. mark — a trace
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. can — to be able to
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. can — a tin
  15. mark — a grade
  16. last — finally
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. sharp — clever
  19. press — to push
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. foot — a measure
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. last — to go on

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