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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 124 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 hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  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. hand — part of the body
  2. press — newspapers
  3. net — in sport
  4. fall — the season
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. net — after costs
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. fall — to drop
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. hand — help
  12. hand — in cards
  13. mark — a grade
  14. pass — a permit
  15. fall — to drop
  16. press — to push
  17. mark — a trace
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. stand — to bear
  20. fine — high quality
  21. fine — all right
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. net — for catching
  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