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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 function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. mug — to rob
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. bore — to tire
  7. press — a publisher
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. mug — a face
  10. wake — a trail
  11. saw — the tool
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. press — to push
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. mug — a cup
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. saw — the tool
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. bore — to drill

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