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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. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. press — a publisher
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. deal — to handle
  10. can — a tin
  11. press — newspapers
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. rash — hasty
  17. can — a tin
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. can — to be able to
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. rash — a series

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