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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. squash — the sport
  5. can — a tin
  6. bound — tied together
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. bound — obliged
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. press — newspapers
  15. wound — an injury
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. can — to be able to
  20. press — to push
  21. can — a tin
  22. bound — certain
  23. press — a publisher
  24. squash — to crush

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