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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. bound — obliged
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bound — certain
  8. bear — the animal
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bear — the animal
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. mine — for digging
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. press — to push
  17. press — newspapers
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bound — tied together
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. mine — an explosive

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