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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. march — the month
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. suit — to fit
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. suit — clothes
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. ball — a great time
  11. press — to push
  12. saw — the tool
  13. march — the month
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. press — newspapers
  17. ball — a dance
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. march — music
  20. fine — high quality
  21. press — a publisher
  22. fine — all right
  23. saw — the tool
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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