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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 116 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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. press — a publisher
  3. can — a tin
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. net — in sport
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. mark — a trace
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. mark — a grade
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. net — for catching
  15. press — newspapers
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. can — to be able to
  18. press — to push
  19. lie — to recline
  20. net — after costs
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. pass — a permit
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. can — a tin

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