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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. mug — a face
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. lean — thin
  5. press — to push
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. mate — to breed
  8. lean — to bend
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. mug — a cup
  11. roll — a cake
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. press — a publisher
  16. roll — a list
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. press — newspapers
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. mug — to rob
  22. mark — a grade
  23. mate — a friend
  24. mate — a partner

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