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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. club — for dancing
  3. bear — the animal
  4. band — a music group
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. press — newspapers
  8. present — the time now
  9. club — for golf
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. bear — the animal
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. game — a match
  16. present — a gift
  17. club — a group
  18. press — a publisher
  19. press — to push
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. game — wild animals
  22. band — a ring
  23. toast — bread
  24. present — there

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