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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. press — newspapers
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. ball — a dance
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. deal — to handle
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. craft — a skill
  12. press — to push
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. ball — a great time
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. craft — boats
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. branch — a division
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. cabinet — ministers

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