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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. ground — the earth
  4. can — to be able to
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. shower — rain
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. mug — a face
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. toast — bread
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — a tin
  15. ground — a position
  16. shower — to wash
  17. press — to push
  18. mug — a cup
  19. mug — to rob
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. ground — crushed
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. press — newspapers

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