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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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468
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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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. vault — a safe
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. net — in sport
  8. net — for catching
  9. press — to push
  10. root — the cause
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. root — of a plant
  13. rush — hurry
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. net — after costs
  21. press — a publisher
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. root — of a word

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