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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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. snap — to click
  4. press — to push
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. object — an aim
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. track — to keep track
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. pass — a permit
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. track — a path
  19. track — a song
  20. perch — the fish
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. object — to protest
  23. object — a thing
  24. nail — for a hammer

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