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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. press — a publisher
  3. kick — in football
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. press — newspapers
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. bore — to drill
  8. bore — to tire
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. season — of the year
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. board — to get on
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. board — a committee
  20. press — to push
  21. season — in sport
  22. deal — to handle
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. kick — a thrill

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