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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 120 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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. press — newspapers
  5. board — a committee
  6. rush — hurry
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. board — to get on
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. sharp — clever
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. squash — the sport
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. squash — to crush
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. can — to be able to
  21. press — to push
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. press — a publisher
  24. can — a tin

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