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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. net — in sport
  3. can — a tin
  4. net — for catching
  5. can — to be able to
  6. lean — thin
  7. staff — employees
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. firm — steady
  10. press — to push
  11. staff — a stick
  12. lean — to bend
  13. rush — hurry
  14. can — a tin
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. staff — employees
  19. net — after costs
  20. press — newspapers
  21. firm — a company
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. press — a publisher
  24. bowl — a football final

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