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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. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. press — newspapers
  5. shower — rain
  6. shower — to wash
  7. face — part of the head
  8. face — to confront
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. key — the most important part
  12. season — in sport
  13. rush — hurry
  14. cap — of ice
  15. season — of the year
  16. cap — a lid
  17. cap — a hat
  18. key — for a lock
  19. roll — a list
  20. face — to point toward
  21. press — a publisher
  22. press — to push
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. key — in music

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