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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. net — for catching
  4. press — newspapers
  5. can — a tin
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. can — to be able to
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. board — to get on
  10. saw — the tool
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. net — after costs
  15. press — to push
  16. plane — a tool
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. board — a committee
  19. sharp — clever
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. can — a tin
  22. net — in sport
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. press — a publisher

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