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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 116 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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bound — certain
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. mate — a partner
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. craft — a skill
  11. craft — boats
  12. press — to push
  13. ground — the earth
  14. ground — a position
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. bound — tied together
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. ground — crushed
  19. bound — obliged
  20. press — a publisher
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. mate — a friend
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. mate — to breed

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