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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 strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. press — newspapers
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. press — to push
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. toast — bread
  9. press — a publisher
  10. wind — to turn a key
  11. wake — a trail
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. pitch — completely
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. wind — moving air
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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