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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. spell — a short time
  8. can — to be able to
  9. spell — magic
  10. press — to push
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. press — a publisher
  14. foot — a measure
  15. press — newspapers
  16. spell — letters
  17. bank — for money
  18. can — a tin
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. bank — for money
  21. tube — the underground
  22. bank — of a river
  23. tube — a container
  24. foot — the bottom

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