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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. rest — what's left
  3. press — newspapers
  4. rest — what's left
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. press — a publisher
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. branch — a division
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. lean — to bend
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. lean — thin
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. press — to push
  15. fall — to drop
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. rest — a break
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. fall — to drop
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. fall — the season
  22. vault — a safe
  23. suit — to fit
  24. suit — clothes

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