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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 always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  19. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. pound — a weight
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. press — newspapers
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. can — a tin
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. suit — clothes
  11. press — a publisher
  12. suit — to fit
  13. court — for sport
  14. bore — to drill
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. bore — to tire
  17. can — to be able to
  18. pound — to hit hard
  19. court — of law
  20. suit — in cards
  21. press — to push
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. can — a tin
  24. court — of a king

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