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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 120 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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. press — newspapers
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. rush — hurry
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. wake — a trail
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. field — for sport
  12. press — a publisher
  13. can — a tin
  14. spell — letters
  15. field — a subject
  16. can — to be able to
  17. field — farmland
  18. can — a tin
  19. spell — magic
  20. stand — to bear
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. spell — a short time
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. press — to push

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