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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. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. scale — in music
  3. tube — a container
  4. rock — a stone
  5. firm — steady
  6. bound — certain
  7. tube — the underground
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. rock — music
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. saw — the tool
  14. press — newspapers
  15. scale — size or range
  16. bound — obliged
  17. saw — the tool
  18. mine — for digging
  19. firm — decided
  20. firm — a company
  21. bound — tied together
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. press — to push
  24. press — a publisher

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