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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 sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. can — a tin
  5. fine — high quality
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. can — to be able to
  10. face — part of the head
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. face — to point toward
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. charge — a price
  16. face — to confront
  17. fine — all right
  18. charge — in control
  19. can — a tin
  20. charge — electricity
  21. press — to push
  22. press — newspapers
  23. press — a publisher
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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