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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. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. press — newspapers
  3. roll — a list
  4. bore — to drill
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. prune — to trim
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. press — a publisher
  12. bore — to tire
  13. file — a document
  14. deal — to handle
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. press — to push
  17. file — a line of people
  18. wake — a trail
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. prune — to trim
  22. roll — a cake
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. wake — before a funeral

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