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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. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. press — a publisher
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. staff — a stick
  6. suit — in cards
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. bore — to drill
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. press — newspapers
  11. bore — to tire
  12. deal — to handle
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. suit — to fit
  17. bank — for money
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. bank — for money
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. suit — clothes
  22. press — to push
  23. staff — employees
  24. bank — of a river

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