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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. club — for dancing
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. stand — to bear
  5. mug — a face
  6. press — newspapers
  7. mate — to breed
  8. season — in sport
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. mug — to rob
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. club — a group
  13. mate — a partner
  14. press — a publisher
  15. press — to push
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. mug — a cup
  19. branch — a division
  20. season — of the year
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. mate — a friend
  23. club — for golf
  24. stand — for spectators

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