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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. press — to push
  4. can — a tin
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. mate — a friend
  9. mate — to breed
  10. dip — to sink
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. stand — to bear
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. lie — to recline
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. press — newspapers
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. can — a tin
  21. mate — a partner
  22. press — a publisher
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. can — to be able to

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