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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. rock — a stone
  5. press — to push
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. press — a publisher
  8. hand — help
  9. chip — for betting
  10. deal — to handle
  11. chip — to eat
  12. bound — obliged
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. press — newspapers
  19. bound — tied together
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. bound — certain
  24. hand — in cards

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