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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. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  6. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  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. rule — government
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. rule — a law
  6. rule — to rule out
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. press — to push
  9. mate — a friend
  10. press — newspapers
  11. staff — a stick
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. bound — tied together
  14. bound — certain
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. mate — to breed
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. staff — employees
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. bound — obliged
  21. staff — employees
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. mate — a partner
  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