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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mug — to rob
  3. pop — soda
  4. court — for sport
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. wound — an injury
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. press — newspapers
  10. mug — a cup
  11. court — of law
  12. wound — an injury
  13. rush — hurry
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. court — of a king
  16. press — to push
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. press — a publisher
  19. pop — to visit
  20. mug — a face
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. pop — music

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