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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. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  2. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — to tease
  2. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. rock — music
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. rock — a stone
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. mate — to breed
  9. mate — a friend
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. mate — a partner
  16. can — to be able to
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. can — a tin
  19. press — a publisher
  20. press — to push
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. can — a tin
  23. kid — child
  24. press — newspapers

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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