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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. file — a document
  3. saw — the tool
  4. file — a tool
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. net — in sport
  7. season — of the year
  8. saw — the tool
  9. net — after costs
  10. press — to push
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. file — a line of people
  13. net — for catching
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. press — newspapers
  16. suit — in cards
  17. season — in sport
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. suit — to fit
  20. bank — for money
  21. bank — of a river
  22. bank — for money
  23. press — a publisher
  24. lash — to lash out

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