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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. That was a fun ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. key — in music
  3. staff — employees
  4. chest — a box
  5. staff — employees
  6. press — a publisher
  7. mark — a grade
  8. press — to push
  9. can — to be able to
  10. can — a tin
  11. press — newspapers
  12. can — a tin
  13. staff — a stick
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. mark — a trace
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. chest — of your body
  18. game — wild animals
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. key — the most important part
  22. key — for a lock
  23. chest — of your body
  24. toast — bread

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