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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 hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. hand — help
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. hand — in cards
  9. press — newspapers
  10. foot — a measure
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. press — a publisher
  13. scale — in music
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. stock — goods
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. stock — shares
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. press — to push
  24. scale — size or range

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